TEL AVIV, Israel (NewsNation) — An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defenses from a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel.
No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel had attacked, and the Israeli military had not yet commented on the apparent strike Friday morning. However, tensions have been high since the Saturday assault on Israel amid its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and its own strikes targeting Iran in Syria.
According to the Associated Press, Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday after reports of explosions near a major airbase and nuclear site where drones were spotted.
Why did Israel strike Iran?
Israel’s attack was in retaliation for Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Iran launched more than 300 suicide drones and missiles toward Israel on Saturday night. Several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said earlier this week that 99% of the projectiles were intercepted. However, Israel said that does not absolve Iran for the attack or the intent behind it.
Many of Israel’s allies, including the U.S. and the United Kingdom, stepped in to help repel the attack. World leaders had also urged Israel this week to use restraint in any retaliatory strike against Iran.
US given ‘last-minute’ warning
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received “last minute” information from Israel about the drone action in Iran, Italy’s foreign minister said.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who chaired the meeting of ministers of industrialized countries, said the United States provided the information at a Friday morning session that was changed at the last minute to address the suspected attack.
Tajani said the U.S. informed the G7 ministers that it had been “informed at the last minute” by Israel about the drones. “But there was no sharing of the attack by the U.S. It was a mere information.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to comment on the assertion, but emphasized that the U.S. was not involved in any attack.
“I’m not going to speak to that except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations,” Blinken said.
Will Iran retaliate for latest strike?
It’s unclear whether Iran would retaliate for Friday’s strike.
Earlier in the week, Iran said it viewed the tit-for-tat as a closed matter but is prepared to strike back if Israel attacks.
“In case of any use of force by the Israeli regime and of violating our sovereignty, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate a bit to assert its inherent right, to give a decisive and proper response to it to make the regime regret its actions,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said hours before Friday’s strike.
Strikes on Syrian air defenses reported
Israel also carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.
The warplanes were seen around the time loud noises and drones were reported near a major Iranian air base and nuclear site early Friday. That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, about 930 miles away, and east of Israel.
$1 billion new weapons transfer to Israel
Meanwhile, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration is considering supplying more than $1 billion in tank shells, mortar rounds and vehicles to Israel. It would be one of the largest weapons transfers to Israel since its invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion that killed 1,200 people.
Sanctions against Iran
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
Earlier this week, Israel’s allies vowed support for defense efforts but won’t assist with a counteroffensive. However, sanctions against Iran are being discussed.
“Some member states propose the adoption of — expand the restrictive measures against Iran,” European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. “I will send to the external action service (EU’s diplomatic service) the request to start the necessary work related to the sanctions.”
On Friday, the U.S. told the Group of Seven foreign ministers that it received “last-minute” information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, Italy’s foreign minister said. G7 minister also warned of new sanctions against Iran.
NewsNation’s Taylor Delandro and Liz Jassin contributed to this report.
