Blasts in Iran rattles world

Agencies | Tehran      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Israeli micro-drones attacked targets in Iran yesterday in retaliation of Iran’s first-ever attack directly targeting Israel, sparking fears of a significant regional escalation. However, these concerns were later downplayed by an Iranian minister, who described the attacks as a ‘desperate attempt to portray victory amid repeated defeats Reports of the attack also prompted global responses, with world leaders immediately appealing for calm.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the Israeli micro-drones used in the operation had caused no deaths or damage, Israel had warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at it almost a week ago, in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike -- widely blamed on Israel -- that levelled the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards.

Air defence systems over several cities were activated, official media reported, after state television said explosions were heard near Iran’s third city of Isfahan.

“Strike” was retaliation

An unidentified Israeli official told The Washington Post the “strike” was retaliation for Iran’s drone and missile barrage and intended to signal Israel was able to hit inside Iran.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing “informed sources”, denied that Iran had been attacked from outside. “Contrary to the rumours and claims” made in foreign media, “there are no reports of an attack from abroad”, Tasnim said.

Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that small drones carried out the “attack”, possibly launched from inside Iran, and that its radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace. Fars news agency reported “three explosions” close to Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase.

Iran’s space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian said there was “a failed and humiliating attempt to fly quadcopters, which were shot down”. There were “no reports of a missile attack”, Dalirian said on social media platform X. “Reports indicate there was no major damage or large explosions caused by the impact of any air threat,” the official IRNA news agency said.