After dealing with the powerful attack from Iran, the IDF reportedly launched its own attack. Israel’s attack on Iran is a bit unclear as the media from both sides are describing a different story. But what we know so far, is that there has been an attack from Israel and Iran’s air defense system were deployed in multiple parts of the country on Friday (19th April 2024) morning.
It was reported that there have been multiple explosions near the airport in Isfahan province. Flights were suspended in various parts of the capital city of Tehran and Isfahan. But four hours later, the flights resumed, and no casualties were reported. So was Israel’s attack on Iran successful?
Israel’s attack on Iran: Three drones were shot down
Three small drones were shot down by Iran’s air defenses over the capital city of Isfahan, according to official media. This came just hours after US networks claimed that Israeli missiles had struck an Iranian location, citing senior US officials.
Air defenses were activated, flights were suspended over numerous places, including the capital Tehran, and Isfahan, and Iranian state media reported explosions in Isfahan. About four and a half hours after the event, airspace was reopened, and no casualties were reported.
The top military official in Isfahan, Second Brigadier General Siavash Mihandoust, informed state media that air defense batteries struck “a suspicious object” but that no harm was done.
Israel had reportedly conducted a military action in Iran, according to prior reports from ABC News and CBS News. The US notified the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers that it had been “informed at the last minute” by Israel of an attack on Iran, according to Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani.
Why Israel targeted Isfahan?
Isfahan is regarded as a strategically significant city that is home to a number of significant locations, such as bases and centers for military R&D. Iran has one of its nuclear enrichment complexes near the city of Natanz.
Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, did not mention Isfahan at a speech in Damghan, central Iran. Instead, he hailed the Iranian attacks on Israel, claiming they brought the nation strength and solidarity.
The head of the Iranian army’s ground forces, Kioumars Heydari, stated that Iran is still ready to counter any more possible aerial threats.
The state-run IRNA news agency cited him as stating, “If suspicious flying objects appear in the sky of the country, they will be targeted by our powerful air defense,” before to Friday prayers in Tehran.
“It was not a strike” – Iran FM dismissed Israel’s attack on Iran
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister of Iran, has complimented the air defense systems of his country for being combat ready and compared the Israeli military’s unmanned aerial vehicles to toys for kids.
In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Amir-Abdollahian stated, “What happened last night was not a strike,” in reference to the sound of explosions in the nation’s capital city of Isfahan and the bullets that the air defense systems fired afterward at an object that appeared suspicious.
The Iranian ambassador continued by stressing that Tehran does not intend to escalate the situation until the Israeli leadership makes a mistake and initiates a fresh offensive.