Israel-Hamas War Day 196: Israel strikes Iranian air base

Israel targeted the defense system of the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran during its strikes Friday morning, ABC quoted a senior American official as saying.

The Israelis were targeting an air defense radar site near Isfahan that’s part of the protection of the Natanz nuclear facility," ABC said, in the name of the official. 

"The first assessment is that the strike took out the site, but assessment hasn’t been completed, the official said."

The official noted, however, that the strike was meant to send a signal to Iran about Israeli capabilities, but not to escalate the situation. 

A general view of the Bushehr main nuclear reactor, Iran (credit: REUTERS/RAHEB HOMAVANDI)

Iran has downplayed the attack's significance

The attack, which Israel has not claimed credit for, was launched in response to the aerial barrage of ballistic missiles and attack drones that Iran sent to Israel last Saturday night following an airstrike in Damascus, widely attributed to Israel, that killed a senior officer in Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

The officer was connected to Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy that has been attacking Israel almost daily since Hamas's attack on October 7.

In the hours since the strikes in Iran Friday morning, Iran has downplayed their effect and significance, declining to directly point the finger at Israel and announcing that no damage was done to any nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) also reported that no damage was done to nuclear sites, and there were no reported casualties. 

Iranian pro-government media downplayed reports of airstrikes inside Iran on Friday morning. Nevertheless, Iranian media’s reports also betrayed a concern across the country about the alleged airstrikes. 

Reports at ABC News in the morning had claimed that Israel carried out strikes in Iran. It came five days after Iran launched 350 drones and missiles at Israel and two weeks after Iran accused Israel of a strike in Damascus.

A strike targeted a site in Iran early Friday morning, two Israeli defense officials confirmed to The New York Times. There were reports of explosions in Isfahan. 

Iranian media showed a video of what they claimed were quiet scenes around the country, trying to show that very little had actually happened.

What was reported in Iran?

According to Iran’s Fars news, “This morning, some local sources reported that a sound similar to an explosion was heard in the west of Tabriz city. Investigations by Fars reporter show that there was no explosion in Tabriz, and the air defense fired upon seeing a suspicious object.”

Israel Air Force F-15i Ra'am fly at a Graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force soldiers who have completed the IAF Flight Course, at the Hatzerim Air Base in the Negev desert. June 28, 2016. (credit: Ofer Zidon /Flash90.)

The same Iranian media said flights were returning to normal in Iran. “The nuclear facility in Isfahan is completely safe. The report of some foreign media about the incident in this facility is incorrect,” Fars News noted.

Israeli official security and governmental sources told The Jerusalem Post on Friday: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Israel retaliated where they were attacked.”

That said, officially, Israel will not accept responsibility for this attack for strategic reasons. Sources explain that the Iranians claim it was an “explosion at a factory” because they wish to avoid escalation. Israeli sources told the Post, that It's unclear why the Pentagon disclosed to the American media that Israel was involved; they could have remained silent, they say. Thet could of preserved Iran's dignity, and avoided escalating the situation on their own.

At the Kirya base in Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the entire security and diplomatic leadership have been present for 24 hours, coordinating with regional partners in Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

That said, Israel does not yet accept responsibility.

In recent hours, countries in the region have conveyed messages to Israel that if Iran attacks, they are here to help.

Objects are seen in the sky above Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, in Jerusalem April 14, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

Israel reportedly informed the US of the strike

An Israeli drone strike targeted Iranian air force assets at Isfahan in central Iran early Friday morning, two Israeli defense officials and three Iranian officials confirmed to The New York Times, although there were some initial contradictory reports that the strike was carried out by long-range attack missiles, which Jerusalem also possesses.

The report came shortly after local sources reported explosions in Isfahan in central Iran, in the As-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria, and in the Baghdad area and Babil Governorate of Iraq early Friday morning.

A US official then told CNN that the Iranian target was not nuclear. Videos from Isfahan appeared to show Iranian air defenses activated in the skies over the area.

A senior US official also confirmed this on Friday morning of the attack, stating, "We were not surprised, while also telling Walla that Israel informed the US in advance of the strike.

In January 2023, a mix of Western intelligence sources and foreign sources told the Jerusalem Post that despite Iranian claims to the contrary, a drone attack on Iran at Isfahan was a tremendous success.

Objects are seen in the sky above Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, in Jerusalem April 14, 2024. (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)

Reports in Iran of the strike

The Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Friday that an explosion was heard in Qahjavarestan, east of Isfahan and near the Isfahan International Airport. Fars stressed that the cause of the explosion was unknown as of yet.

Saudi Arabia expressed regret on Friday over the failure of the UN Security Council to adopt a draft resolution accepting full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Friday there was no damage to Iran's nuclear sites in an alleged attack by Israel on Iran.

The agency continues to monitor the situation very closely and calls for extreme restraint from all sides, stressing that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts, it said in an X post.

Early on a quiet Friday morning, drama unfolded in the Middle East after media reported that an Israeli missile strike targeted a site in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, Iran. This development was accompanied by a series of explosions that echoed through the southern Syrian region of As-Suwayda near Baghdad and in the Babil Governorate of Iraq.

As dawn broke over Isfahan, videos captured the city's skies lighting up, a stark display of Iranian air defenses springing into action. 

It’ll take some time for the fog to clear, especially as Israel maintains an official policy of silence. 

A mural depicting the late leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are seen on a building in a street in Tehran, Iran March 3, 2024. (credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/via Reuters)

Not nuclear

First, while Isfahan has a significant nuclear complex - with research reactors from China and a fuel production plant – the nuclear program is not necessarily the target. Isfahan is also home to important military bases. 

Now, the question is what Iran’s response will be - will it contain Israel’s alleged response, understanding that it could have been worse – for example, destroying key electrical infrastructure in Iran - or will it want to escalate? The ball is now in their court. 

But here is what it’s important to keep in mind: Israel was directly attacked by Iran in an unprecedented way with hundreds of drones and missiles. All those people who will tell you now that Israel was reckless and that Netanyahu wants to goad Biden into a regional war don’t understand that not responding would have raised the stakes of war. Israel was not willing to appease Iran. Force needed to be met with force.

Hostile aircraft was reported in Northern Israel towns of Rehaniya, Alma, Kerem Ben Zimra, Yir'on, Dalton, Jish (Gush Halav), Baram, and Avivim.

Reports have claimed on Wednesday that Iran is currently preparing for a potential Israeli retaliation against its territory or proxies following Tehran's missile attack onto Israel on Sunday. As such, Iran has allegedly removed senior  Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from Syria. 

This comes amid US and European pressure onto Israel to respond in a way that prevents further escalation following Tehran's missile and drone attack over the weekend.

Reports citing Iranian officials said Wednesday claimed that that Iran is currently preparing its air force for potential strikes, and its navy would commence escorting Iranian commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Additionally, Tehran has initiated the evacuation of personnel from sites in Syria with a significant presence of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Syrian and Iranian officials and advisers.

A Noor missile is fired from Iran's first domestically made destroyer, Jamaran, during a war game by the Iranian army near Jask port in southern Iran May 11, 2010. (credit: REUTERS/ISNA/Ruhollah Vahdati)

IRGC, Hezbollah mid-ranking officers relocating

IRGC and Hezbollah's mid-ranking officers are relocating from their original positions within the country to various undocumented locations, as reported by the Wall Street Journal citing Syrian security officials.

On April 8, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has taken action alongside Iran's aggressive stance. He affirmed Iran's support for Hezbollah's "resistance" and declared that the presence of the IRGC in Syria and Lebanon dates back to 1982, following Israel's aggression towards Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Tehran has stated its intention to retaliate against any Israeli action, indicating a departure from its decades-long shadow conflict with Israel, primarily conducted through proxies, to direct engagement.

Hezbollah was on heightened alert during the Iranian attack over the weekend, expecting potential Israeli retaliation targeting its positions.

However, it has since reduced its threat level, as it believes Israel is unlikely to strike Hezbollah in Lebanon in response to Iran's attack. Instead, Hezbollah has been advised by Iran to take precautionary measures in Syria, where Israel could target IRGC bases, warehouses, and Hezbollah posts.

Israel has asserted that it will respond to Iran's Sunday attack, stating it's "only a matter of how." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that "Israel has a right to defend itself" addressing the notions of a counterstrike.

Israel's potential response could escalate its conflict with Hamas, backed by Tehran, into a wider regional war, a scenario both sides aim to avoid. However, concerns are mounting over potential misinterpretations of intentions between Israel and Iran.

To encourage Israel to limit its response, the White House announced plans on Tuesday to impose economic sanctions on Iran. These measures would target the IRGC, along with its missile and drone programs, while further sanctions may impact Iran's oil industry and revenue generation capabilities.

Amassing international pressure against a strike on Iran, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Israel on Wednesday to meet Netanyahu while emphasizing the need for de-escalation.

Nevertheless, US officials have express concern that an Israeli counterstrike could exacerbate regional tensions. As a result of this, they have suggested accepting an Israeli ground invasion in Rafah instead of striking Iran.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday spoke with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss Iran's actions in the Middle East, other regional threats and aid into Gaza, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Austin discussed "the importance of increasing and sustaining" the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, including via a new route from Ashdod Port in Israel, the Pentagon said.