Israel’s long awaited response to a massive Iranian attack this past weekend came early Friday morning by striking at the Islamic Republic’s city of Isfahan.
CNN reports, citing US and Iranian sources, that Iranian air defense systems were activated in several locations after three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near Isfahan. Iranian officials claimed that air defenses intercepted three drones, and no damage was done. Iranian TV allegedly appeared to minimize the scale of the attack, broadcasting calm scenes from Isfahan showing residents walking through parks and visiting landmarks, with traffic and airport operations operating as usual.
Isfahan is reported to house several significant IRGC installations, including nuclear sites, a military airbase, and a factory used to manufacture suicide drones. As per the US official cited in the report, Israel gave prior notice to the Biden Administration, which did not support the counterattack despite Israel’s assurances it would not target Iran’s nuclear facilities or civilian populace. In a statement, Iranian officials confirmed that its nuclear facilities “were secure.”
Prior to today’s Israeli counterattack, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had warned Israel that any further military action against Iran would be met with an “immediate and at a maximum level” response, noting that this warning had been communicated to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.
Israel’s response comes after an unprecedented Iranian direct strike late Saturday, which saw more than 300 suicide drones and cruise missiles fired against the Jewish State.
