US fears Israeli attack on Iran at 'any moment'
Published: 11 May, 2012, 22:22
An Israeli F-16 fighter jet takes off. (AFP Photo / Jack Guez)
TRENDS:Israel vs Iran
The State of Israel may launch a military strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran any time now, reports Israeli television network Channel 10 News.
Channel 10, a decade-old broadcasting network with international distribution, reports that authorities in the United States are rushing this week to discuss an impending Israeli attack on Iran. The reports have developed in recent days following news that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formed an alliance with Shaul Mofaz, the leader of the nation’s largest opposition party.
Speaking of the deal between the two, PM Netanyahu has said the newfangled alliance will stabilize the country’s government. Reporting from Jerusalem, the UK’s Independent adds that the relationship installs “a commanding mandate” for Netanhau, “should he choose to strike against Iran.”
In the United States, many have feared that it would only be a matter of time before such a strike occurred. Only now, however, are top US officials reportedly trying to find a way to prevent an immediate attack.
Israel National News reports that the strike could be carried out at "any given moment.”
Channel 10 adds in their report that undisclosed sources with ties to the US government say authorities in Washington, DC fear that the Netanyahu/Mofaz alliance brings together two influential party leaders that would both favor an attack on Iran. Speaking together on Tuesday this week, both men said they have much common ground between them when it comes to issues that include Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is also reported to be in favor of a strike on Iran more likely sooner than later. With an attack seeming imminent, US officials are reportedly scurrying to strike a deal that will prevent a war from breaking out in the coming weeks.
Earlier this year, the plans for the US/Israeli joint missile exercise were pushed back, in turn causing much speculation over if and how both nations would cooperate with one another if an attack was waged on Iran.In February, Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess told reporters that, if a war erupted, it was most likely to be initiated by Israel.
"Iran could also attempt to employ terrorist surrogates worldwide. However, the agency assesses Iran is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict," Burgess said.
Weeks earlier, it was reported at a US Defense Department briefing at the Pentagon outside of Washington, DC that authorities were readying the deployment of a massive US Navy “mother ship,” the USS Ponce, towards Iran’s Strait of Hormuz. When RT covered the news when it first developed, it was reported that the ship could be sent overseas as early as May 2012.
Earlier this week, US Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that he rejects the notion of continuing US support to Israel through military aid, saying that doing so "will lead to war."
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