3 Gulf states agree to IAF overflights en route to Iran
By Yoav Stern and Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondents
Three Arab states in the Persian Gulf would be willing to allow the
Israel Air force to enter their airspace in order to reach Iran in case
of an attack on its nuclear facilities, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa
reported on Sunday.
According to the report, a diplomat from one of the gulf states visiting
Washington on Saturday said the three states, Qatar, Oman and the United
Arab Emirates, have told the United States that they would not object to
Israel using their airspace, despite their fear of an Iranian response.
Al-Siyasa further reported that NATO leaders are urging Turkey to open
its airspace for an Attack on Iran as well and to also open its airports
and borders in case of a ground attack.
According to a British diplomat who spoke to an Al-Siyasa correspondent,
Turkey will not repeat the mistake it made in 2003, when it refused to
open its airspace to U.S. Air Force overflights en route to attacking Iraq.
British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday that Israel is
negotiating with the U.S. over permission for an "air corridor" over
Iraq, should an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities become necessary.
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh on Saturday denied the reports and
said Israel has no such plans.
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