Iran's air defense systems were activated in various regions of the country early on Friday morning following reports of explosions near Isfahan province's airport, amidst escalating tensions with Israel, as per state media sources.
On Friday, explosions were also reported in Iraq and Syria.
Here is the current information available:
What occurred and when?
According to state media reports, Iran utilized air defense batteries in multiple provinces to intercept and take down three small drones over Isfahan's central city. These reports emerged shortly after US media disclosed that senior US officials claimed Israeli missiles had struck an Iranian facility.
"We have also been informed that the air defense systems above Tabriz city in Iran's northwest were put into action," stated Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran.
Flight operations were halted in several areas, including Tehran and Isfahan, but were later resumed after approximately four hours, with no casualties reported.
"At 4:45 (01:15 GMT), we heard gunfire. There was no visible activity," mentioned a correspondent from Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. "It was the air defense, the individuals you see here, and also over there."
Explosions were also documented in Iraq and Syria, with Iranian state media indicating that multiple military sites in Syria were under attack.
Syria's state-run SANA news agency stated that at around 2:55 am (23:25 GMT) on Friday, the "Israeli enemy initiated an assault with missiles". Israel targeted Syria's "air defense installations in the southern area. The attack resulted in material damages," as per SANA's report.
Less than a week after Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria, tensions between the two countries have escalated further. The attacks took place near Qahjavarestan city in Isfahan province, which is located in the center of Iran. Isfahan is home to important facilities such as the country's uranium conversion facility and the Natanz uranium enrichment site. It also houses a significant Iranian airbase that hosts the aging fleet of US-made F-14 Tomcats. The region of Syria that was targeted is directly west of Isfahan, approximately 1,500km away. The exact area affected in Iraq is still unclear. Iranian media reports suggest that there is no evidence of foreign involvement in the attacks, and some unconfirmed reports even suggest that small quadcopters were used in the strikes. Israel has not yet commented on the attacks, while US officials claim that Israeli missiles were responsible but deny giving approval for the strike.
Hours following the explosion, reports indicated that Isfahan was described as "quiet". Nevertheless, as per certain analysts, irrespective of the level of destruction, the alleged strike conveys a message to Iran regarding the susceptibility of its security. Isfahan is situated "deep within the country", which, according to Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, could suggest "Israel's intelligence and operational access, regardless of whether the attack originated internally or externally". During a press briefing, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned that the US government informed the G7 nations at the "very last moment" about the attack, but there was no sharing of the attack by the US. It was merely an information update.
Israel has refrained from claiming responsibility for the attack, and the military has also not issued any comments. According to a report from The Washington Post, citing an Israeli official, the strike was meant to signal to Iran that Israel possesses the capability to reach Iran with its weapons, and it was executed with precision. However, the attack in Iran exposed divisions within Israel. Far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Givr implied in a social media post that the suspected Israeli strike on Iran was feeble. Ben-Gvir has been advocating for a strong military response following Iran's retaliatory attack against Israel on April 13. Opposition leader Yair Lapid retaliated, criticizing Ben-Gvir for causing significant harm to the country's security, reputation, and international standing. "In an unforgivable tweet of one word, Ben-Gvir managed to mock and disgrace Israel from Tehran to Washington," he stated.
Iranian officials have asserted that shots were fired at certain objects and no damage was inflicted. This attack occurred a day after the IRGC cautioned Israel against targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.
The historical context between Israel and Iran has been marked by longstanding rivalry in the region. Iran has exerted consistent pressure on Israel through its allies, particularly Hezbollah in Lebanon. The conflict escalated with Israel's military actions in Gaza following an attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Additionally, Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen have targeted US military positions, with Iran warning that attacks will continue until the situation in Gaza is resolved. Tensions further heightened when Iran accused Israel of bombing its diplomatic mission in Damascus, Syria, leading to fears of a broader regional conflict. Subsequently, Iran launched a significant missile and drone attack on Israel, raising concerns about a potential Israeli response. Iranian officials have issued warnings of decisive retaliation in case of further attacks, but recent statements suggest a possible pause in the cycle of threats and counterthreats between the two sides.
Comments
Post a Comment