The US will give Israel sufficient warning before any attack on Iraq to allow time to prepare for expected counterattacks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today.
He spoke as Israeli media reported that three more Patriot anti-missile batteries have been deployed near the port city of Haifa, the town of Gedera and the Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Israel has already deployed two batteries of the more advanced Arrow anti-missile system, and a Patriot battery near the nuclear reactor in the Negev Desert.
The additional deployment came, in part, to be prepared for possible terror strikes during the anniversary of the September 11th attacks, said the reports.
Mr Sharon said the "strategic coordination between Israel and the United States is at an unprecedented level."
He said that last year, he was notified by Washington two-and-a-half days before US war planes launched their attacks on Afghanistan.
Mr Sharon said he could not estimate if or when a US attack on Iraq would take place, but that Israel would be given warning.
Asked how early Israel would be notified, he said the warning would give Israel "the time that is required to complete our preparations."
He said US officials "know exactly how much time we need."
In the event of a US attack on Iraq, it is expected that Saddam Hussein will fire missiles at Israel - as he did in the 1991 Gulf War when 39 Scuds were fired.
Asked about reports that Iraq had developed pilotless planes, or drones, that could deliver chemical or biological weapons, Mr Sharon said: "I think these things are very exaggerated. Israel is the most prepared country ... for conventional, chemical or biological attacks."
AP