Israel has warned Iraq through diplomatic channels it will hit back hard if Iraq attacks the Jewish state as it did during the 1991 Gulf War, an Israeli newspaper reported today.
The message was relayed to Baghdad by Arab and Russian officials, the paper said.
Israel told Baghdad "it had no intention of participating in an American operation on its soil, but if it was attacked, it would retaliate severely," the paper reported.
Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon's office refused to comment on the report.
Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War, killing two and wounding hundreds.
At the time, Israel did not strike back after coming under pressure from the United States, which feared a riposte would break the international coalition assembled against Iraq.
Many Israelis believe the decision not to fight back in 1991 made the country appear weak in the eyes of the Arab world.
AFP