An unclaimed aerial attack in central Iran on Friday has heightened tensions in the region, signaling a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
According to a US official who spoke to CNN, Israel is believed to have carried out the strike, although Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility. The attack comes in the wake of recent tit-for-tat strikes between the two countries, adding to concerns of a broader regional conflict.
Iranian authorities downplayed the incident, stating that their air defenses intercepted three drones near an army base in the central province of Isfahan. There were no reports of a missile attack, and Iranian media reported that all facilities, including nuclear sites, were secure.
The attack follows Iran’s unprecedented assault on Israel last weekend, purportedly in retaliation for a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria earlier in April. While Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian characterized last weekend’s strikes as legitimate defense, Israel has not acknowledged responsibility for the consulate attack.
The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel have unfolded against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The conflict in Gaza has already strained relations between Israel and its neighbors, further complicating the situation in the region.
Despite calls for restraint from allies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s right to make its own decisions in response to Iranian airstrikes. Iran, on the other hand, has warned of an immediate and maximum-level response to any further Israeli military action.
The details of a potential Iranian response have been planned by Iran’s armed forces, according to Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian. However, Iranian media appeared to downplay the severity of Friday’s attack, depicting calm scenes in affected areas.