On Friday, Israel launched a counterstrike against Iran, according to multiple sources including ABC News, CBS News and The New York Times. Israeli defense officials have confirmed the strike, but the Israeli Armed Forces have not yet commented on the matter. The extent of the attack is not yet clear, but reports suggest it targeted an air base near Isfahan.
An Israeli official source told The Washington Post that the purpose of the attack was to demonstrate Israel’s ability to carry out strikes within Iran’s borders. Iranian state media reported explosions or sounds near Isfahan, with some sources suggesting it was a missile strike, while others denied this claim.
The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the attack did not damage Iran’s nuclear facilities. The United States and several other countries have called for both Israel and Iran to de-escalate the situation and avoid further conflict in the Middle East. The tension between Israel and Iran has been escalating for decades, with counterstrikes by both parties becoming more frequent.
European countries, China, Japan, and Arab nations have also urged restraint to prevent the situation from worsening. The United States has advised its embassy personnel in Israel to limit their movements due to concerns over potential retaliation from Iran. Reports suggest that the US was aware of the attack in advance and discussions on Iran’s actions were held the night before it occurred.
The attacks by Israel and Iran are viewed as a critical moment that could lead to open warfare in the Middle East if tensions continue to escalate unchecked. Various countries have come forward to call for peace and de-escalation in order to avoid further repercussions from this latest conflict between these two nations with a long history of conflict and retaliation dating back to 1970s until nowadays 2020s
