Israel attacks Iran on the birthday of Iran’s Leader
Early Friday morning, U.S. officials confirmed reports to various media outlets that Israel had conducted a retaliatory strike against a site in Iran, although an Iranian official dismissed it as an unsuccessful drone attack.
The strike occurred on April 19, coinciding with the 84th birthday of Iranian supreme leader Khamenei. Multiple sources, including ABC News, CBS News, and NPR, relied on unnamed U.S. officials to relay that the Israeli military had launched one or more missiles at Iran.
Bloomberg News disclosed that Israeli authorities had forewarned U.S. officials the preceding Thursday of their intent to strike Iran within the next 24-48 hours.
A senior U.S. official, whose identity remains undisclosed, informed CNN that while the U.S. had been notified of Israel’s planned retaliation, it did not endorse such actions.
Crucial details regarding the strike, such as its precise location and the extent of damage inflicted, remain elusive.
Initially, FARS, managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported explosions near Isfahan, a city approximately 340 km south of Tehran, housing significant military installations, including an important airbase and nuclear facilities. Later, FARS clarified, citing “informed sources,” that the nuclear facility remained unharmed.
According to Iranian state-affiliated news agency IRNA, Iran’s air defense system was activated in multiple provinces following reports of explosions around Isfahan.
IRNA attributed the incident to a “defensive shot” fired by air defense units in Tabriz, northwest of Isfahan, in response to a perceived threat. It assured that Tabriz was in a state of calm.
Contrary to reports of a foreign missile attack, Hossein Dalirian, a spokesperson for the Iranian space agency, refuted the claims, asserting that three “micro birds” had been shot down instead.
This retaliation from Israel comes shortly after Iran’s recent launch of numerous drones and missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted by Israeli and allied defense systems.
In a preemptive statement to CNN, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned against further Israeli aggression, promising an immediate and robust response if Iran’s interests were threatened again.
Israel attacks Iran on the birthday of Iran’s Leader
