Israel Launches Retaliatory Attack on Iran; Tehran Attributes Explosions to…
Israel launched an attack on Iran early Friday, reportedly targeting Isfahan, according to sources cited by ABC News, including a US official. The incident occurred shortly after Iran’s recent drone and missile strike on Israel, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
Explosions and disturbances were reported in Isfahan, as confirmed by Iran’s Mehr news agency. Flights were suspended not only in Isfahan but also in Tehran, Shiraz, and other Iranian cities, along with border airports. However, specific details regarding the nature and extent of the Isfahan blast remain undisclosed. Isfahan had been identified as one of the launch sites for Iran’s previous attack on April 13.
In response to Iran’s aggression, Israel retaliated within a week, according to US officials speaking anonymously to Bloomberg. Israeli authorities had reportedly notified the United States of their intention to retaliate within the following 24 to 48 hours. This move raised concerns about a potential widening of the conflict across the Middle East.
Before the strikes were reported, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin engaged in discussions with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as confirmed by Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder. While the conversation touched on regional threats and Iran’s destabilizing actions, it did not explicitly mention any forewarning of Israel’s retaliatory strikes.
Contrary to initial reports, Iran’s Press TV sources claimed that no foreign attack took place on Iranian cities, including Isfahan. Instead, the activation of Iran’s air defense systems was cited as the cause of the explosions heard. An Iranian official further clarified to Reuters that no missile attack had occurred against Iran, attributing the sounds to the defense system activation.
Israeli authorities also clarified that the warning sirens heard in northern Israel early Friday were a false alarm, dispelling rumors of imminent attacks following unconfirmed reports of Israeli strikes in Iran.
This latest escalation follows Israel’s vow to respond to Iran’s unprecedented drone attack the previous weekend. The attack came in retaliation for Tel Aviv’s strike on Tehran’s embassy in Syria on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of two Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The situation prompted Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to announce new sanctions on Tehran, targeting its oil export capacity. These measures were aimed at exerting pressure on Iran amidst the escalating tensions in the region.
