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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Israelis 'rehearse Iran attack' | Israelis 'rehearse Iran attack' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Israel has carried out an exercise that appears to have been a rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, US officials have told the New York Times. | Israel has carried out an exercise that appears to have been a rehearsal for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, US officials have told the New York Times. |
| More than 100 Israeli fighter jets took part in manoeuvres over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece in the first week of June, US officials said. | More than 100 Israeli fighter jets took part in manoeuvres over the eastern Mediterranean and over Greece in the first week of June, US officials said. |
| Iran insists its programme is peaceful, but Israel sees Iran's development of the technology as a serious threat. | Iran insists its programme is peaceful, but Israel sees Iran's development of the technology as a serious threat. |
| Tehran is defying a demand from the UN that it stop the enrichment of uranium. | Tehran is defying a demand from the UN that it stop the enrichment of uranium. |
| The UN Security Council approved a third round of sanctions against Iran over the issue in March 2008. | The UN Security Council approved a third round of sanctions against Iran over the issue in March 2008. |
| 'Signals' | 'Signals' |
| Several US officials briefing the New York Times said the exercise was intended to demonstrate the seriousness of Israel's concern over Iran's nuclear activities, and its willingness to act unilaterally. | |
| Q&A: Iran nuclear issueIran's nuclear sitesWest keep Iran channel open | Q&A: Iran nuclear issueIran's nuclear sitesWest keep Iran channel open |
| "They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," a Pentagon official is quoted as saying by the newspaper. | "They wanted us to know, they wanted the Europeans to know, and they wanted the Iranians to know," a Pentagon official is quoted as saying by the newspaper. |
| "There's a lot of signalling going on at different levels." | "There's a lot of signalling going on at different levels." |
| The exercise involved Israeli helicopters that could be used to rescue downed pilots, the newspaper reported. | The exercise involved Israeli helicopters that could be used to rescue downed pilots, the newspaper reported. |
| The helicopters and refuelling tankers flew more than 1,400km (870 miles), roughly the distance between Israel and Iran's main uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. | The helicopters and refuelling tankers flew more than 1,400km (870 miles), roughly the distance between Israel and Iran's main uranium enrichment plant at Natanz. |
| The New York Times reported that Israeli officials declined to discuss the details of the exercise. | The New York Times reported that Israeli officials declined to discuss the details of the exercise. |
| A spokesman for the Israeli military said the air force "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel". | A spokesman for the Israeli military said the air force "regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel". |
| Warnings | Warnings |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned on 4 June that drastic measures were needed to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned on 4 June that drastic measures were needed to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. |
| He said Iran must be shown there will be devastating consequences if it did develop such weapons. | He said Iran must be shown there will be devastating consequences if it did develop such weapons. |
| Israeli deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz - a former defence minister - said earlier this month that military strikes to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons looked "unavoidable". | Israeli deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz - a former defence minister - said earlier this month that military strikes to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons looked "unavoidable". |
| In 1981, Israeli jets bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, 30km (18 miles) outside Baghdad. | In 1981, Israeli jets bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, 30km (18 miles) outside Baghdad. |
| Israel said it believed the French-built plant was designed to make nuclear weapons that could be used against Israel. | Israel said it believed the French-built plant was designed to make nuclear weapons that could be used against Israel. |