Israeli schools are to begin teaching children how to use gas masks in preparation for Iraqi missile attacks that Israel fears could follow the start of a US war against Iraq, the education ministry said today.
Israeli media reported Israel would go on high alert from January 15th in anticipation that hostilities would erupt in the Gulf between January 27th and February 26th.
The defence ministry would not confirm the date, but said Israeli security forces have been preparing for a possible Iraqi attack.
Washington indicated yesterday that a ground and air war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was possible in early 2003 and the US military forged ahead with a build-up that could have more than 100,000 troops in the Gulf in weeks.
Israel has developed and deployed Arrow missiles, designed to destroy incoming Scuds. Some 1,000 US troops are expected in Israel soon for an exercise involving US-made Patriot missiles, which failed to shoot down Scuds in the 1991 conflict but have since been upgraded.
Israel has already inoculated 15,000 emergency workers with the smallpox vaccine and former military medical chief Mr Arieh Eldad said today it should immediately start vaccinating the general population.