Israel Strikes Near Iranian Military Base in Retaliation

Several blasts were heard near a major air base and a nuclear center in the central Iranian city of Isfahan after drones were spotted early on Friday morning.

US officials declined to comment early on Friday, but American media, quoting unnamed US officials, said Israel carried out the attack. 

The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials also claiming the assault.

🎥 روزنامه جروزلم پست اسراییل، در اولین ساعات جمعه ۳۱ فروردین از شینده شدن صدای انفجار در اصفهان در مرکز ایران خبر داد.

یک مقام آمریکایی هم به ای بی سی نیوز گفته که موشک های اسرائیلی به سایتی در ایران اصابت کرده است.

شبکه سی‌ان‌ان هم به نقل از یک مقام آمریکایی گزارش داد اسرائیل… pic.twitter.com/JnOyaIBNgh

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) April 19, 2024

Air defense batteries were fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported.

The state-run IRNA news agency said air defenses were fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

پروازهای فرودگاه امام لغو شد.

به مسافران اعلام شد که فرودگاه را ترک کنند!#تهران#ایران#اسرائیل pic.twitter.com/LGQHpfD6AM

— 🇺🇸 ماه ایزدیار 𝕏 (@Mahizadyaar) April 19, 2024

Iranian state television said nuclear facilities near Isfahan are "fully safe" after air defense batteries were fired in the area.

On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said there had been no damage to Iran's nuclear sites, but it was monitoring the situation closely

The US confirmed that Israel had struck Iran but did not give any further details. US officials told CBS News that Israel had hit Iran with a missile but did not say where or what the impact was.

Colonel Siavosh Mihandoust, a senior commander of Iran's Army, stated on Friday via state TV that the overnight attack did not cause any damage.

"The sounds were from Isfahan air defense targeting suspicious objects, there was no damage or accidents," he said

Although there has been no official confirmation from Israel that it carried out the reported strikes on Iran, one member of the Israeli parliament appears to have suggested that there is a little doubt who was responsible.

“Good morning dear people of Israel, a morning in which the head is held high with pride. Israel is a strong and powerful country,” Tally Gotliv, a member of Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, wrote on X.

Gotliv added: “May we regain the power of deterrence.”

The US was not involved in any “offensive operations” in Iran overnight, according to secretary of state Antony Blinken.

“I’m not going to speak to that except to say the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations,” Blinken said.

Qatar expressed regret on Friday over the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution recognising a Palestinian state through full membership of the United Nations. 

The Italian foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said that Washington had told the G7 ministers that it had been “informed at the last minute” but that “there was no sharing of the attack by the US — it was a mere information”.

Russia has joined the growing list of countries calling for a de-escalation in the Middle East.

The Kremlin said on Friday it was studying information on Israel’s reported strike on Iran. It called on both sides to show restraint.