Jewish state responds with airstrikes after Iranian weekend offensive

Wana News Agency / VIA REUTERS

According to information from the American press, Israel retaliated against Iran with airstrikes in response to the offensive carried out by the Islamic Republic this weekend (photo showing the damage suffered by a building linked to Iranian nuclear power near Isfahan) .

MIDDLE EAST – Officially, the Hebrew State refuses to comment, but it would be a response after a response. Loud explosions were reported early Friday morning in central Iran, with senior US officials reporting an Israeli attack in retaliation for unprecedented drone and missile strikes against Israel last weekend. .

Tehran reported three explosions near a military base in the center of the country, the official Fars agency reported. Drones were shot down but there was no missile attack. so far », indicated the authorities. And the nuclear installations based in the region of Isfahan, an important city in the center of the country, are “ totally safe », Specified the Tasnim agency.

Israel refuses to comment

The country announced at dawn that it had activated its air defense in several provinces after information from “ loud explosions » in the center, indicated the official Irna agency and state television, which did not elaborate on the causes.

But according to American officials cited by several American television stations including the ABC News channel, but also the Washington Post and the New York Times, it is therefore an Israeli attack carried out in retaliation for the weekend’s strikes. Military sources told NBC News and CNN television channels that Tel Aviv had also warned Washington of this morning’s operation. Officially, however, the White House has not commented on the Israeli strike. The army of the Hebrew State, for its part, indicated to AFP that it had no comment “ For now » about these explosions.

Citing “well-informed” sources on the issue, the Iranian Tasnim agency for its part affirmed that there was no question of a strike carried out by a foreign power. “Contrary to rumors and claims made by Israeli media”he “There is no report of an attack from abroad on the central city of Isfahan or any other part of the country”the agency said, while no Iranian leader has publicly commented on these explosions.

– / AFP

Screenshot from Iranian state television Irib showing the city of Isfahan after heavy explosions attributed to Israeli retaliation after the violent weekend air attack on the Jewish state.

Note that the strikes this Friday morning also targeted southern Syria at dawn, “on a Syrian army radar position”specified Rayan Maarouf, activist and manager of online media Suwayda 24. “Israeli strikes targeted a Syrian army radar position between the provinces of Soueida and Deraa”confirmed the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) to AFP.

Israel had for a time ruled out the idea of ​​a response

These new developments come as Israel threatened, Monday April 15, to respond to the attack carried out by Tehran against its territory last weekend. An offensive which already followed a deadly strike attributed to Israel against the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, in which military officials of the Islamic Republic were killed.

In this case, Israel said it had intercepted with its allies (including France) almost all of the approximately 350 drones and missiles launched by Iran, and affirmed that the Iranian attack would not remain “unpunished”. And for good reason: it was the first direct attack ever carried out by Iran against its sworn enemy, whose existence it does not even recognize.

In the process, the head of Iranian diplomacy Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran intended to stop there, but that it would ” to regret “ any military response to Israel. By attacking Israel, Iran says it acted in ” self-defense “ after the attack that destroyed its consulate in Damascus. “Iran’s self-defense actions and countermeasures are over, so the Israeli terrorist regime must stop any further military adventurism against our interests”Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

Israel had for a time considered quickly carrying out strikes in Iran in retaliation for the missiles launched by Tehran, before finally reviewing its plans, Israeli and American media said on Thursday. According to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had decided not to implement pre-approved plans for retaliatory strikes in the event of an attack, after discussions with US President Joe Biden.

Israel’s first ally, the United States urges Israel to exercise restraint, opting instead to strengthen its sanctions against “Iran’s drone program, the steel industry and automakers”. The EU and the United Kingdom also announced new sanctions against Tehran. But obviously not everyone was heard since the Jewish state apparently finally decided to resort to arms.

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