Iran Thwarts Drone Attack in Isfahan, Israel Suspected of Involvement
On Sunday, Iranian state media reported that Iran was successful in thwarting a drone attack on a military installation in Isfahan. The Iranian Defense Ministry announced that its air defense units had repelled a drone attack on a military workshop in the central city of Isfahan.
The deputy governor of Isfahan province announced, before the military’s declaration, that the explosion had happened “in one of the centers” of the Defense Ministry.[0] The local experts stated that no one was injured, but the explosion left some damage.[0]
IRNA, the state news agency, reported later that the explosion had been caused by “small drones.”[1] No fatalities were reported and only minor damage to the roof of a workshop was incurred from the unsuccessful attack, the ministry stated.[2] The complex has continued its usual operations following the attack.[3]
Israel was behind the drone strike that struck a defence facility in the Iranian city of Isfahan, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Sunday citing U.S. officials and “people familiar with the operation.”[4]
Labeling the strike as a “cowardly” try to throw the nation into disarray, Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian asserted: “Such actions will not impact our experts' determination to progress in our peaceful nuclear work.”[2]
Iran has claimed that Israel is behind several clandestine operations in Iran, one of which allegedly involved a satellite-operated firearm that assassinated renowned nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in November 2020.[5]
A fire ravaged the Iranian Natanz nuclear complex, an integral part of Iran's uranium enrichment program, in Isfahan Province located south of Tehran, in July 2020.[1] [1]
The following year, a blackout occurred in Natanz on the anniversary of National Nuclear Day, with Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) calling it a “terrorist action.”[1] The Chief of the Israeli Army seemed to suggest potential Israeli involvement in the occurrence.[1]
0. “Iran invaded with drones | MENAFN.COM” MENAFN.COM, 29 Jan. 2023, https://menafn.com/1105490923/Iran-invaded-with-drones
1. “Drones attack military plant in Iran: Tehran” erienewsnow.com, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/48251726/drones-attack-military-plant-in-iran-tehran
2. “Israel Reportedly Carries Out Drone Strikes On Iranian Factory On Eve Of Blinken’s Middle East Tour” Forbes, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/01/29/israel-reportedly-carries-out-drone-strikes-on-iranian-factory-on-eve-of-blinkens-middle-east-tour/
3. “Drone attack attempt on Iran not to go without punishment” Mehr News Agency – English Version, 29 Jan. 2023, https://en.mehrnews.com/news/196746/Drone-attack-attempt-on-Iran-not-to-go-without-punishment
4. “Israel carried out drone attack on Iranian defense facility — WSJ” The Times of Israel, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-carried-out-drone-attack-on-iranian-defense-facility-wsj
5. “Drone attack on military site averted: Iran” The News International, 29 Jan. 2023, https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1035398-drone-attack-on-military-site-averted-iran
