Israel will not warn US of pre-emptive strike on Iran

WASHINGTON // Israeli officials say they will not warn the US if they decide to launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, setting a tense tone ahead of high-level meetings in the coming days in Washington.

A US intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel warned that it will keep the Americans in the dark, to decrease the likelihood that Americans would be held responsible for failing to stop Israel's potential attack.

The White House and Israeli Embassy both declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces opened fire overnight on Monday on gunmen who infiltrated from Egypt's Sinai peninsula, killing one in an exchange of fire, the Israeli military said yesterday.

"The suspects fired at the soldiers, who returned fire and identified a hit," the army said in a statement.