BICOM

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta believes there is a ‘strong likelihood’ that Israel will strike Iran’s nuclear facilities this spring, according to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.

Ignatius said Panetta ‘believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June before Iran enters what Israelis described as a “zone of immunity” to commence building a nuclear bomb.’  When asked about the statement, Panetta refused to comment, but added that ‘Israel indicated they’re considering this (a strike), we’ve indicated our concerns.’

In related news, yesterday Defence Minister Ehud Barak said during an address to the Herzliya Policy Conference that if sanctions on Iran’s nuclear programme are ineffective, then military action against the Islamic Republic must be considered. “Today, unlike in the past, there is widespread international belief that it is vital to prevent Iran from becoming ‘nuclear’ and that no option should be taken off the table,” Barak said.

Several other Israeli officials speaking at the conference, including Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon and IDF Intelligence Chief Aviv Kohavi, reiterated Barak’s remarks.