JERUSALEM - The air force would be able to offer a response should Israel decide to strike at Iran, air force commander Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shakedi told foreign correspondents Monday. After being asked whether Israel has any plans to hit Iranian targets, Shakedi said "You know that for obvious reasons, I won't say even a word." However, he refused to say whether he thought Israel was capable of carrying out such a mission on its own. But when asked whether he was confident the air force could provide the answer to the Iranian threat, Shakedi replied, "I must be prepared for everything." 'We don't have a lot of time' Reports regarding the acquisition of bunker-buster bombs and long-range fighter-bombers have led to speculation that Israel might target Iran if international diplomacy failed to curb Teheran's nuclear ambitions. "We must deal with all the alternatives before (doing) something very complicated," Shakedi said. "But we don't have a lot of time." Turning his attention to Lebanon, Shakedi said the recent killing of Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik Hariri "can create a new picture" in the country. With Syria, Hizbullah guerrillas and Hizbullah's Iranian benefactors all operating in Lebanon, "We understand who has interests" in Hariri being targeted, he said. Asked whether the Israeli air force has changed its deployment as a result of the assassination, he replied, "Of course we won't let the other side hit us. ...we have a job to protect the citizens of Israel." -AP also contributed to this report