New Delhi: Tensions in the Middle East were aggravated Friday when Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil in the latest tit-for-tat between the arch foes who have been squaring off ever since the Israel-Gaza conflict broke out late last year.
Israel reportedly conducted an airstrike near an airbase in the Isfahan province Friday morning, in response to the Iranian regime’s attack days prior — though the majority of the incoming 300 drones and missiles were intercepted by Israeli air defence systems.
Isfahan is home to sites linked to Iran’s nuclear programme.
On Friday morning, Iran’s state media reported its air defence had been activated in several provinces after an explosion in the Isfahan province. Following the sound of an explosion in Tabriz near an area called Vadi-e-Rahmat in northwestern Iran, Tabriz Air Defense fired upon a “suspicious object”, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported, adding that the city was currently in a “peaceful situation”.
Following the sound of an explosion in the west of Tabriz, northwestern #Iran and near an area called Vadi-e- Rahmat, according to IRNA reporter, it was found that Tabriz Air Defense fired upon observing a suspicious object.
No explosion happened in Tabriz, and the city is in a…
— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) April 19, 2024
Flights to Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz were immediately suspended.
Meanwhile, unnamed US officials confirmed to various American media outlets that Israeli missiles did hit a site in Iran. According to a CNN report, Israeli officials assured Washington that Iran’s nuclear facilities would not be targeted.
The Israeli military is yet to comment on the reports.
Earlier this week, German and British foreign ministers arrived in Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials as part of diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating. Netanyahu reportedly told the foreign ministers that Israel would “make its own decisions” over how to respond to Iran’s attack last week.
Some experts have called Israel’s strikes on Iran Friday “de-escalatory”.
“Israeli strike against Iran is de-escalatory (and it) had to take some sort of action. Restrained compared to attacks on Damascus that precipitated the crisis,” American political scientist and author Ian Bremmer said in a statement on X, referring to a suspected Israeli bombing of Iran’s consulate in Syria on 1 April. Iran says the attack killed seven of its military advisers, including three senior commanders.
israeli strike against iran is deescalatory.
had to take some sort of action.
restrained compared to attacks on damascus that precipitated the crisis.
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) April 19, 2024
Before Friday’s strike, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi had warned Israel that it would deliver a “severe response” to any attack on its soil.
In a statement earlier this week, the Iran embassy in India said it carried out its attack last week in “self-defence” after the strike on its diplomatic mission in Syria. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to the UN Charter and will not hesitate to continue its constructive role for the stabilizing peace and stability in the region,” the statement added.
Ahead of Israel’s strikes Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was in New York to attend a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East. While speaking to journalists, he said the US was informed of Tehran’s attack on Israel last week before it happened. “We sent a message to the United States telling it about the operation and another message in the early morning of Sunday that we are not looking for further tension in the region,” Amir-Abdollahian told reporters.
During Friday’s UNSC meeting, the US vetoed the resolution of the full UN membership of Palestine. Of the 15 UNSC members, 12 voted in favour of this resolution while the UK and Switzerland abstained.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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