Saudi threatens to shoot down Iran-bound Israeli aircrafts

PanARMENIAN.Net - Saudi Arabia has threatened to shoot down any Israeli aircraft over its airspace en route to or from Iran, RIA Novosti reported citing Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

The message was passed via senior U.S. officials during recent talks in Jerusalem.

Both Israel and the United States have said they may consider a military strike to put a stop to Iran's disputed uranium enrichment program.

Washington and its allies say Iran is developing an atomic bomb, an allegation Tehran denies.

The paper said the route over Saudi Arabia was one of four air routes identified by Israel's intelligence for a possible attack on Iran.

Saudi Arabia is equipped with U.S.-made fighter jets and sophisticated defense systems, Israeli media reported.

Israel would have to use at least 100 aircraft should it decide to launch a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, the New York Times said in a report in February. The planes would have to fly some 1,600 kilometers over hostile territory.

Israeli bombers flew through Saudi airspace in July 1981 in an operation to destroy Iraq's Osirak nuclear power station. No aircraft were shot down during that air raid.