Escalation in the Middle East
Explosion in Iran: US media reports Israeli attack
The city of Isfahan is home to Iran’s largest nuclear research center
© EPA / DPA
After Iran attacked Israel, the country is now reporting an explosion near the metropolis of Isfahan. Is this Netanyahu’s retaliation?
According to consistent US media reports, Israel should… attacked Iran. ABC News, MSNBC and Fox News and other media outlets reported, citing US government officials, that Israel carried out a military operation in Iran on Friday night. This was a response to the Iranian air strikes on Israel at the weekend. Israel had previously warned that it would respond to the Iranian attack on Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones over the weekend.
“Three explosions” were heard near the Shekari air base in the northwest of Isfahan province, the Iranian Fars news agency reported. According to the information, there was no major damage. A spokesman for Iran’s space agency said several drones had been “successfully shot down.” There was initially no information about a rocket attack.
According to state media, air defense was activated in several provinces of the country and operations were suspended at several airports. The Mehr news agency reported that flights to Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, as well as to airports in the west, northwest and southwest, had been suspended. The United Arab Emirates airline flydubai canceled its flights to Iran on Friday. Irna later reported that air traffic in Tehran had resumed.
The Pentagon did not initially confirm the reports. So far there has been no direct accusation from the Iranian side. However, the government denied reports that the Security Council had met in an emergency session. In addition, according to the Iranian space agency, Iranian air defenses shot down several drones.
Iran’s nuclear facilities in sight?
Fox News reported, citing a military source, that it was a “limited attack.” The USA was not involved and the Israelis informed the US government in advance. On Thursday there was a conversation between high-ranking representatives of the US government and the Israeli side in which, according to the White House, Iran was also discussed.
Important facilities for the Iranian defense industry are located in Isfahan. The country’s largest nuclear research center is also located in the cultural city. According to the radio, there was no danger to the nuclear facilities there. The nuclear facilities in Isfahan province are “completely safe,” the Tasnim news agency reported, citing “reliable sources.” “The information published in some foreign media about an incident at these facilities is incorrect.”
Iran attacked Israel with hundreds of drones, cruise missiles and rockets on Sunday night. The background was a suspected Israeli-led attack on the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus, in which two generals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were killed at the beginning of April. Israel had announced that it wanted to respond to the Iranian retaliatory attack.
This post is continually updated.