National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Abraham Amah
Israel conducted a military strike inside Iran, as reported by a US official to CNN on Friday. This action marks a potentially risky escalation in the rapidly intensifying conflict in the Middle East, despite attempts by Iranian government officials to downplay the situation.
Iran activated its air defense systems in Isfahan and Tabriz after hearing three explosions near a major military airbase close to Isfahan, according to state media reports early on Friday. Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, stated that the explosions above Isfahan were linked to anti-aircraft systems engaging a suspicious object, resulting in no damage, as reported by Iranian state news agency IRNA.
Although Iranian officials claimed that air defenses intercepted three drones and there were no missile attacks, the source of the strike remains unidentified by Iran. The United States received advance notice on Thursday of an impending Israeli strike within days but did not endorse the action, as indicated by a senior US official. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US was not involved in offensive operations but was focused on supporting Israel’s defense and de-escalation efforts.
Reports from state-aligned news agencies indicated that Iran’s nuclear sites were secure, suggesting that the attack was limited in scope. Meanwhile, Iranian media downplayed the incident, portraying calm scenes in Isfahan where residents strolled through parks and visited landmarks. Traffic patterns were normal, and the airport had reopened after briefly suspending flights on Friday.
These developments came shortly after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that any further Israeli military actions would be met with an immediate and severe response. The minister conveyed this message to the White House through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.
Tensions in the Middle East have remained high following Iran’s retaliatory strike against Israel over a suspected Israeli attack in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in casualties. Amidst these escalating hostilities, calls for restraint and de-escalation have been voiced by various parties to prevent further conflict in the region.
In response to the recent military strike conducted by Israel inside Iran, hardline Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has taken a strong stance, suggesting that Israel should “go crazy” in its actions. Ben Gvir expressed his disapproval of Israel’s reported strike by publishing a one-word response on X early Friday morning – a slang term meaning “lame” or “weak.”
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, condemned Ben Gvir’s comments as “unforgivable.” Lapid stated, “Never before has a minister in the security cabinet caused such significant damage to the country’s security, reputation, and international standing.”
Jasmine El-Gamal, a former Middle East adviser to the US Defense Department, offered insights into the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. She described the tit-for-tat strikes as a form of “posturing and messaging,” indicating that neither side is currently seeking an all-out war. El-Gamal emphasized that Israel, in particular, would require full military and political support from the United States to engage in a large-scale conflict, which President Biden has indicated he is not prepared to provide.
Regarding Israel’s reported strike, El-Gamal suggested that it was intended to send a message to Iran: “We have the capability to target your nuclear facilities if necessary. We are aware of their locations, and even though we refrained from striking them this time, we have the capacity to do so.”
