On Friday, April 19, explosions were heard over a city in Iran, with sources suggesting it was an attack by Israel. However, Tehran downplayed the event, stating they have no intention of retaliating.
A US official told CNN that the US was informed on Thursday of Israel’s plans to respond to Iran, but the US did not endorse Israel’s plans.
Sources familiar with the situation also informed Fox News that Israel had notified the US in advance, but the US did not participate. A knowledgeable military source described the strike as “limited.”
Since last Saturday when Iran’s drones and missiles attacked Israel, diplomats have been working tirelessly to prevent an all-out war. This limited-scale attack and Iran’s subdued response seem to indicate their efforts have been successful.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on April 19 that the G7 countries are “committed to de-escalating” tensions between Israel and Iran.
Iranian media and officials claimed that the explosion was caused by Iran’s air defense system intercepting three drones over Isfahan. Interestingly, they referred to the event on the 19th as an “intrusion,” removing the need for retaliation against Israel.
An Iranian official told Reuters that there are no plans to respond to Israel over this incident.
The official stated: “The foreign origin of the incident has not been confirmed. We have not faced any external attack, and discussions lean towards an intrusion rather than an attack.”
Israel has not commented on the incident. In recent days, Israel has indicated plans to retaliate for Iran’s attack last Saturday. Despite decades of hostilities between the two countries, Iran had never directly attacked Israel before, relying on proxy forces in Iraq, Lebanon, and elsewhere.
Iran claimed the Saturday attack was retaliation for Israel’s suspected airstrike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus on April 1, which resulted in the deaths of several Iranian officers, including a senior commander.
Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israel this time did not result in any casualties, with only minor damage as most drones and missiles were shot down by Israel and its allies.
Since then, allies including the US have been working to ensure that any further retaliatory actions do not escalate hostilities. British and German foreign ministers visited Jerusalem this week, tightening sanctions on Iran to placate Israel.
Countries around the world urged both sides on Friday to avoid further escalation. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “It is absolutely necessary for the region to remain stable, and for all parties to exercise restraint in taking further actions.” Beijing and Arab countries in the region also issued similar calls.
After the events on Friday, news reports in Iran did not mention Israel. Analysts and experts on the national television downplayed the scale of the event.
An analyst told the national television station, “Small drones piloted by infiltrators from within Iran were shot down by the air defense system in Isfahan.”
Iranian state television reported that shortly after midnight, three drones were observed over Isfahan. The air defense system was activated and destroyed these drones in the sky.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had warned Israel before the attack on Friday that Tehran would give a “severe response” to any attack on its territory.
On Thursday, Iran told the UN Security Council that “Israel must be compelled to cease any further military adventurism that harms our interests.” The UN Secretary-General cautioned that the Middle East is at its “most dangerous moment.”
By morning, Iran had reopened the airport and airspace that were closed during the attack.
Despite this, concerns remain high for the security of Israel and elsewhere. The US Embassy in Jerusalem has “exercised high caution,” restricting US government employees from traveling to areas outside Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Beersheba.
The embassy warned US citizens to “continue exercising caution and heightening personal security awareness as security incidents often occur without warning.”
According to Israeli statistics, Hamas Islamist militants attacked Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in 1,200 deaths, prompting Israel to launch an offensive in Gaza to eliminate the Hamas radical organization. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s military offensive has caused around 34,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza.
Iran-backed groups have declared support for Palestinians, launching attacks from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, raising concerns that the Gaza conflict could evolve into a broader regional war.