March 13, 2005 -- Israel has drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack on targets in Iran if diplomacy fails to halt the Iranian nuclear program, according to a published report.
The inner Cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave "initial authorization" for an attack at a private meeting last month at his Negev Desert ranch, the Sunday Times of London reported today.
Israeli forces have used a mock-up of Iran's Natanz uranium-enrichment plant in the desert to practice destroying it, according to the Times, which cited no sources.
Their tactics include raids by Israel's elite Shaldag commando unit and airstrikes by F-15 jets, using bunker-busting bombs to penetrate underground facilities, the paper says.
The plans have been discussed with American officials who are said to have indicated provisionally that they would not stand in Israel's way if all international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear projects failed, reports the Times.
Times of London
