Iran says it has repelled a drone attack on a military facility. US media and the “Jerusalem Post”, on the other hand, speak of an Israeli success. Kiev also expresses itself – with glee.
A military installation near the Iranian city of Isfahan was attacked by drones during the night. Images of a huge explosion are circulating on social media. Iran’s defence ministry is playing down the incident: Security forces stationed at the complex had managed to repel the attack, with only “minor damage” to the roof of the building. Western intelligence services, on the other hand, celebrated the attack as a “phenomenal success”, writes the Jerusalem Post. There were four explosions and the damage was far worse than the Islamic Republic claimed. The Wall Street Journal also claims to have heard from “people familiar with the operation” that Israel was behind the attacks.
Iran’s foreign minister indirectly confirmed that the attack was aimed at the country’s controversial nuclear programme: “Such actions will not affect the determination of our experts to move forward in our peaceful nuclear work,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told reporters in a televised statement. He spoke of a “cowardly act” aimed at “making Iran more unsafe”.
A press release from Iran’s state agency Irna said the building had been attacked in a similar way before. The security forces stationed at the site recognised the approaching drones by the sound. Two of the drones were destroyed in the air, one was shot down and the remains are now in the hands of the Iranian security forces. They were “three advanced quadrocopters equipped with bombs”, i.e. drones with four rotors.
Israel rarely confirms operations carried out by the country’s secret military units or the Mossad intelligence service and also declined to comment on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was recently reinstated as prime minister, has long viewed Iran as the biggest threat to his country. Growing tensions with Iran are also said to have been the background to the large military exercise that Israel launched together with the USA a few days ago.
