TEL AVIV, Israel–The Israel Defense Forces is carrying out drills to practice for a possible massive aerial assault on Iran's nuclear facilities within days - or even hours - of being given the go-ahead by its new government, according to a report today in the Times of London.

"Israel wants to know that if its forces were given the green light they could strike at Iran in a matter of days, even hours. They are making preparations on every level for this eventuality. The message to Iran is that the threat is not just words," one unnamed senior defense official was quoted telling The Times.

The British newspaper quoted other unidentified defense sources explaining any Israeli attack on Iran would entail flying over Jordanian and Iraqi airspace, where U.S. forces have a strong presence.

Previous drills have included the use of F15 and F16 fighter jets, helicopters and refueling tankers, practicing bombing raids at long distances, according to the Times. Those drills took place last year, according to IDF sources speaking to WND.

The Times said defense officials believe Israel could be required to hit more than a dozen targets, including moving convoys similar to trucks carrying weapons that were reportedly targeted by Israel in Sudan earlier this year.

Targets for the Israel Air Force include Iran's Natanz reactor, where thousands of centrifuges produce enriched uranium; Esfahan, where 250 tons of gas is stored in tunnels; and Arak, where a heavy water reactor produces plutonium.

"We would not make the threat [against Iran] without the force to back it. There has been a recent move, a number of on-the-ground preparations, that indicate Israel's willingness to act," another official from Israel's intelligence community was quoted telling the Times.

That official added it was unlikely that Israel would carry out any attack without receiving at least tacit approval from the Obama administration, which has been pushing for dialogue with Tehran.

Ephraim Kam, the deputy director of the Institute for National Security Studies, commented that it was unlikely the U.S. would approve an attack.

"The American defense establishment is unsure that the operation will be successful. And the results of the operation would only delay Iran's program by two to four years," he said.

Israel recently announced upcoming nationwide civil defense exercises, to prepare the country for the possibility of missile attacks on the home front.

Also, the Jerusalem Post reported earlier this week the U.S. and Israel will conduct their most complex military exercise ever, jointly testing three ballistic missile defense systems, according to defense officials.

The exercise, called Juniper Cobra, will be conducted in Israel later this year, and will include the Arrow 2 missile interceptor system, the U.S.'s terminal high altitude area defense and the ship-based Aegis ballistic missile defense system.

Obama policy giving Iran nukes?

In a recent interview, Shabtai Shavit, a former Israeli Mossad chief, told WND Obama's policy of direct diplomacy with Iran may buy Tehran enough time to produce nuclear weapons.

"I don't believe there is a political solution which can be achieved through negotiations with Iran," he said.

"My concern is that until Obama finishes his learning curve of the subject, the Iranians are going to have maybe the first or even more nuclear bombs."

Shavit served as director of the Mossad from 1989 through 1996. He clarified that although diplomacy cannot be ruled out, from his experience he doesn't believe there can be a political solution with Iran.

He said there is a military option but that at this point in time, an Israeli or U.S. strike against Tehran's nuclear facilities would not completely halt the country's suspected illicit program.

"According to the best of my assessment, I'm afraid [using a strike to] completely disrupt the whole Iranian (nuclear) project and the whole system is not possible. But there still could be a military option. It depends what are the aims you define for [any such attack]."

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