Israel has authorised the United States to stockpile military hardware at its army bases ahead of a possible US-led offensive against Iraq.
According to the daily Maarivnewspaper, Israeli Defence Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer has given approval for the weaponry to be brought in the coming days.
A senior US officer was quoted, anonymously, confirming the report.
Under a strategic co-operation agreement, Israel has placed its bases at the disposal of the United States and will provide logistic and intelligence aid, the source said, although Israel would not be an active player in any military action against Iraq.
Maarivsaid dozens of US officers and troops were already in Israeli army bases to prepare for the arms shipments.
"The quantities of arms which have already been shipped to Israel are enormous because Israel is the only country in which we have such confidence," one of the officers said.
AFP