Israel is preparing a military strike against Iran over US objections, triggering
Americans to step up contingency plans to safeguard its facilities in the region in case of a conflict.
President Barack Obama, defence secretary Leon Panetta and other top US officials have delivered a string of private messages to Israeli leaders, warning about dire consequences of a strike, Wall Street Journal reported quoting Pentagon sources.
Obama spoke on phone on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benzamin Netanyahu and Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff is rushing to Tel Aviv to meet top Israeli military officials.
“Our concern is heightened,” a senior US military official said of the probability of an Israeli strike over US objections.
Tehran crossed at least one of Israel’s “red lines” earlier this month when it announced it had begun enriching uranium at the Fordow underground nuclear facility near the holy city of Qom.
Published 14 January 2012, 18:51 IST