America\u2019s spy chief was sent on a secret mission to Israel to warn its leaders not to launch a surprise attack on Iran without notifying the US Administration.<\/p>\n
As Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, prepares to visit Washington, it emerged yesterday that Leon Panetta, the head of the CIA, went to Israel two weeks ago. He sought assurances from Mr Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, the Defence Minister, that their hawkish new Government would not attack Iran without alerting Washington.<\/p>\n
Concerns have been rising that Mr Netanyahu could launch a strike on Tehran\u2019s atomic programme, in the same way that Israel hit Saddam Hussein\u2019s Osirak reactor in 1981. Israel has been preparing for such an eventuality. It has carried out long-distance manoeuvres and is due to hold its largest civil defence drills this summer. The country\u2019s leaders reportedly told Mr Panetta that they did not \u201cintend to surprise the US on Iran\u201d\u009d.<\/p>\n