Israeli minister warns of 30-day Iran war
August 16th, 2012
(FinancialTimes) – An Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear programme is likely to trigger a broader war between the two countries that could last 30 days, according to the Israeli minister who has been readying the country’s home defence.
Matan Vilnai, who left his post this week to become Israel’s ambassador to China, said the country was preparing for a scenario in which Iran and its allies in the region would fire hundreds of missiles at Israeli every day, causing as many as 500 fatalities. “It could be that there will be less fatalities, but it could be there will be more . . . The assessments are for a war that will last 30 days on a number of fronts.”
His comments follow a surge in speculation about an impending Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as well as a series of reports in the Israeli media questioning the country’s readiness for war with Iran. Critics point in particular to an acute shortage of gas masks, with Israel only holding supplies for about half the population.
In an interview with the Maariv daily Mr Vilnai sought to dispel these concerns, insisting that the “home front is ready as never before in the country’s history”. He argued that gas masks were “not the most important thing”, instead highlighting the recent series of drills to test the home defences.
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