Israel would not be able to attack Iran’s nuclear programme without the US, a former Israeli prime minister has warned in an interview with The Telegraph.
Mr Olmert also revealed for the first time that when he made the decision as Israeli leader in 2007 to launch an attack on Syria’s nuclear programme, he had forewarned [Gordon Brown, then the UK prime minister](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gordon-brown/).
There were two world leaders who knew about the attack, Mr Olmert said. “One was President Bush, with whom I took counsel for a long time.”
“The only other head of state that I shared this information with was Gordon Brown. I told him about the atomic reactor in Syria and that we were going to destroy it.”
The government and agencies, Mr Olmert continued, responded to his sharing of intelligence with gratitude. “They told me they would never forget the trust that Israel bestowed upon them, sharing such sensitive information before a military operation.”
rom_sk on
The US had successfully frozen the Iranian regime’s nuclear program. But then a certain orange idiot – with Bibi’s strong support – decided to withdraw from the nuclear agreement. So, quit Bibi, and we’ll quit Trump, then we can talk again.
NyriasNeo on
He means Maverick.
MuzzledScreaming on
We made a whole Tom Cruise movie out of it and everything.
Zeke83702 on
With all the money Americans have given Israel you’d think they could do it themselves. Bunch of whiny little beggars if you ask me.
GayFurryHacker on
Yeah, sounds like something you say just before you attack the bunkers.
Murderousdrifter on
Iran has indicated they are willing to engage on a new agreement, there’s no way the Biden administration agrees to assist in this attack, an attack which likely at best will only postpone Iran’s nuclear ambitions temporarily, when there’s a better chance of either this administration or the next coming to a new agreement.
Like it or not, it’s just the way it is.
loiteraries on
Both David Petraeus and retired Gen. Ken McKenzie who were CENTCOM commanders gave public interviews where they did not sound confident that the nuke program can be ended with air strikes because they say Iran has built these facilities very deep into mountains that bunker busters cannot penetrate into all sites scattered all over the country. Gen. McKenzie said even for US military such an operation would be logistically complex and he doubts Israel has that capacity at all with their smaller air-force and limited logistical arm.
8 Comments
From The Telegraph:
Israel would not be able to attack Iran’s nuclear programme without the US, a former Israeli prime minister has warned in an interview with The Telegraph.
[Ehud Olmert](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/17/nato-should-help-restore-gaza-strip-says-ehud-olmert/) said Israel might not have the “[capacity to penetrate the deep underground bunkers](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/06/19/us-air-force-bunker-buster-penetrator-bombs-weapons-bombers/) that are spread in different parts of Iran”.
Instead, he suggested, an attack on [Iran’s nuclear programme](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/02/israel-urged-to-attack-iran-nuclear-programme/) would have to be carried out by the US with Israeli assistance.
“Then it’s a different story. It has to be an American decision,” Mr Olmert said. He added: “[There are many other targets for Israel](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/02/israel-options-retaliatory-strikes-iran-weapons-leaders-oil/) that will be painful and significant and possibly also deter [Iran].”
Joe Biden has said he doesn’t support an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites [in retaliation for the 180 ballistic missiles](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/10/05/israel-significant-attack-oct7-massacre-anniversary/) fired by Tehran at Israel last week. But pressure has been building from Donald Trump, who said over the weekend he supports strikes.
Mr Olmert also revealed for the first time that when he made the decision as Israeli leader in 2007 to launch an attack on Syria’s nuclear programme, he had forewarned [Gordon Brown, then the UK prime minister](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gordon-brown/).
There were two world leaders who knew about the attack, Mr Olmert said. “One was President Bush, with whom I took counsel for a long time.”
“The only other head of state that I shared this information with was Gordon Brown. I told him about the atomic reactor in Syria and that we were going to destroy it.”
The government and agencies, Mr Olmert continued, responded to his sharing of intelligence with gratitude. “They told me they would never forget the trust that Israel bestowed upon them, sharing such sensitive information before a military operation.”
The US had successfully frozen the Iranian regime’s nuclear program. But then a certain orange idiot – with Bibi’s strong support – decided to withdraw from the nuclear agreement. So, quit Bibi, and we’ll quit Trump, then we can talk again.
He means Maverick.
We made a whole Tom Cruise movie out of it and everything.
With all the money Americans have given Israel you’d think they could do it themselves. Bunch of whiny little beggars if you ask me.
Yeah, sounds like something you say just before you attack the bunkers.
Iran has indicated they are willing to engage on a new agreement, there’s no way the Biden administration agrees to assist in this attack, an attack which likely at best will only postpone Iran’s nuclear ambitions temporarily, when there’s a better chance of either this administration or the next coming to a new agreement.
Like it or not, it’s just the way it is.
Both David Petraeus and retired Gen. Ken McKenzie who were CENTCOM commanders gave public interviews where they did not sound confident that the nuke program can be ended with air strikes because they say Iran has built these facilities very deep into mountains that bunker busters cannot penetrate into all sites scattered all over the country. Gen. McKenzie said even for US military such an operation would be logistically complex and he doubts Israel has that capacity at all with their smaller air-force and limited logistical arm.