Israel launches attack on Iran

Iranian media point out that explosions were recorded in the city of Isfahan, which is home to nuclear power plants, but there is no record of significant damage. Action comes days after Iran's attack on IsraelIsrael launched an attack against Iran in the early hours of this Friday (19/04), but the scale of the action is still uncertain. According to members of the United States government, cited by the American press, the Israelis launched at least one missile against Iran.

Iranian press outlets point out that explosions were recorded in Isfahan, a city in the central region of the country, which is home to military bases and nuclear power plants.

According to the Iranian press, the country's air defenses also shot down at least three drones and so far no significant damage has been recorded in the country.

State broadcaster IRIB downplayed reports of an attack, pointing out that Isfahan is “safe and secure”. Another Iranian agency confirmed the defense measures taken at the Isfahan base, which houses American F-14 fighter jets acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said it has not observed damage to Iran's nuclear facilities so far, confirming Iranian reports.

Images released by Iranian media also showed anti-aircraft guns at the ready near a uranium conversion plant in Isfahan, where three small Chinese-made reactors are located. The site is used to produce fuel for Iran's civil nuclear program. The city is also home to an underground uranium enrichment site that has reportedly been the target of sabotage attempts by Israel.

The Israeli government has not yet officially confirmed the action. A member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the American newspaper Washington Post that the action aims to show the Iranians that the Israelis have the capacity to launch an attack inside Iran.

US officials, anonymously, told Reuters that the country was not involved in the attack, but that it was notified by Israel about the action.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday after the Israeli attack that there is currently no plan for immediate retaliation.

The action marks a new escalation in tensions between the two countries and comes six days after Iran launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. Last Saturday (04/13), the Tehran regime launched around 300 aerial attacks on Israeli soil, including drones and missiles. Israel stated that it managed to shoot down 99% of the weapons with its anti-aircraft systems and assistance from allies in the region. No significant damage was recorded and Iran signaled even before the drones reached their targets that the action would be limited.

Iran, in turn, stated that Saturday's attack was a response to a bombing of the country's diplomatic complex in Damascus at the beginning of the month, which the regime attributed to Israel.

(More information shortly)