Tehran is downplaying the scale of the morning attack, saying it was limited to three small drones. The Iran said its air defenses had opened fire in what appeared to be a limited strike over the central city of Isfahan on Friday, as fears of an all-out war with Israel grew.
An Iranian commander told the official news agency IRNA that the batteries intercepted at about 4 a.m., explaining the explosions heard northeast of the city. “We had no damage or incident,” the brigadier general stated Siavash Mihandoost.
Iran’s state media downplayed the attack, saying three “birds” were downed and insisting that flights had returned to normal. THE Hossein Daliriana spokesman for Iran’s National Cyber Center, also said the attack was limited to three small “quadricopters” – unmanned aerial vehicles – and insisted the country had not been hit outside its borders.
The New York Times reported that two Israeli officials confirmed the strike, echoing other US media reports. Fears of Israeli retaliation have been expected since Tehran bombarded Israel last Saturday night with about 300 rockets and drones, most of which were repelled by Israel and its allies.
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he had no official comment when contacted by Politico. THE Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s hard-right national security minister appeared to confirm the attack on X by posting the word “lame”. He himself has called for a massive strike on Iran.
“The way the leadership operates this time is completely different – there was no war cabinet meeting last night either.” an Israeli official with close ties to the government told Politico on condition of anonymity to speak freely. “Don’t forget that Bibi has been talking about Iran since 1996 and this is a pivotal moment because he has the conditions for a real anti-Iranian coalition and he doesn’t want to jeopardize it.”
Isfahan, next to the nuclear area
The Isfahan is a sensitive potential target area due to its proximity to the Natanz, Iran’s most important uranium enrichment facility. A senior officer of the Revolutionary GuardsThe Ahmad Haqtalabhad hinted on Thursday that Tehran could move ahead with developing nuclear warheads if Israel attacked its nuclear facilities.
THE International Atomic Energy Agencyhowever, stressed Friday morning that all of Iran’s nuclear facilities have not been damaged.
The Israel also accused by Iran of having a history in the Isfahan area. Tehran blames the spy agency Mossad that it carried out a drone strike in January 2023 to attack a weapons factory, which international observers say could be linked to Iran’s Shahed kamikaze drones sent to Russia.
Netanyahu earlier this week stressed that his country would make its own decisions on retaliation amid pressure from Western allies, including the US and UK, to show restraint.
“I think it’s part of a bigger plan that Netanyahu has, and if I’m reading his behavior correctly, I think he’s not in a hurry and he’s calculated.”he told Politico Nadav Shtrauchlera former political strategist to Netanyahu. “He knows what’s at stake. I think it’s part of something bigger. In December 1941, there was Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima and Nagasaki actually took four years. I don’t think he wants to escalate quickly. And I think it’s a move from most things he plans.”
The West fears a further escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, where Israel is waging a war against its militants Hamas at Gaza Strip since last October.
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Iran’s nuclear site in Isfahan, Iran, April 4, 2024. Iran launched air defense fire at a major airbase and nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotted drones believed to be part of an Israeli strike in retaliation for Tehran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows the civilian airport and dual-use air base in Isfahan, Iran, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Iran launched air defense fire at a major air base and nuclear site early Friday morning near central city of Isfahan after spotting drones believed to be part of an Israeli strike in retaliation for Tehran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack on the country. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)
Source: Politico
BBC: Israel’s attack on Iran is a gift for Khamenei’s birthday
Iran-Israel: Turkey calls for restraint on all sides
Israel-Gaza: Qatar considers reconsidering role in Hamas-Israel talks
Global concern: The Iran and Israel versions of what’s next in the Middle East – BBC analysis
American media: “Israel had warned Washington about the operation in Iran”
Gunpowder in the Middle East: “We intercepted drones”, says Tehran – “Missile strikes”, report the American media
#Israels #attackwarning #area #Iran #nuclear #weapons #Photos
