Iran developing missile capabilities

JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Iran is developing advanced cruise missiles that could carry non-conventional warheads, Arieh Herzog, a top Israel Defense Ministry official, warned.

Speaking at the annual International Aerospace Conference in Jerusalem Wednesday, Herzog, director of the ministry's Homa Missile Defense Agency, said Iran will have cruise missiles that could potentially carry a warhead within several years, The Jerusalem Post said.

Herzog said Israel's missile defense capabilities are keeping pace with developments in Iran, the Post said.

Former military intelligence head Amos Yadlin said Iran has enough material for four or five atom bombs, and once they are developed, will reach nuclear capability within 1 1/2 years, Yedioth Aharonoth said Wednesday.

Yadlin said the recent round of sanctions following the publication of the International Atomic Energy Agency report are not harsh enough to halt Iran's nuclear drive.

Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan warned if Israel attacks Iran, a regional war would be inevitable, with Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and possibly Syria launching massive missile attacks on Israel, Haaretz said. Dagan made his prediction in a clip from an interview broadcast on Channel 2 Tuesday. He said such a war would take a heavy toll in terms of loss of life and would paralyze life in Israel, the paper said.