Isfahan, Iran – Early Friday morning, long-distance aircraft launched missiles targeting Iranian Air Force assets in Isfahan in central Iran. Israeli involvement in the strike was confirmed by two Israeli defense officials and three Iranian officials, as reported by The New York Times. Local sources also reported explosions in Isfahan, southern Syria, and areas in Iraq around the same time.
According to a US official speaking to CNN, the target in Iran was not nuclear. Videos from Isfahan showed Iranian air defenses activated in response. A senior US official mentioned that Israel had informed the US in advance of the strike.
In January 2023, undisclosed sources revealed to the Jerusalem Post that a drone attack at Isfahan was highly successful, despite Iranian denial. Reports from Iranian news agencies indicated explosions in east Isfahan, near the Isfahan International Airport, with air defenses being activated in response to small drones.
Moreover, Israeli officials had reportedly notified the US of their plans to launch a strike within the following 24-48 hours. Syrian reports suggested that airstrikes also targeted sites belonging to the Syrian Army in southern Syria.
Flights to Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz were suspended, with flight trackers showing planes diverting from their routes to Iran. Senator Marco Rubio highlighted Israel’s capability to carry out strikes within Iran without entering its airspace. Israeli media reported the presence of senior officials at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv on the morning of the strikes.
The missile strikes took place following Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile attack against Israel, triggered by an alleged Israeli airstrike near the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Iranian officials had warned of a swift and forceful response to any Israeli aggression. The situation remains fluid and continues to develop.