News Desk
ISLAMABAD/ DUBAI/WASHINGTON: A US official have said that it appeared that Israel was behind an overnight drone attack on a military factory in Iran’s Isfahan.
Iran intercepts drones
Iran earlier claimed that it intercepted drones that struck a military factory near Isfahan. Iran said that no major damage or casualties were reported.
The extent of damage, however, could not be ascertained independently. Iranian media released footage of the attack on a building showing a flash in the sky and emergency vehicles blaring at the scene.
The Israeli military, however, declined to comment on the issue.
Arch-foe Israel has time and again said that it was willing to strike Iranian targets if diplomacy failed to curb Tehran’s nuclear programs. However, Israel has a policy of not endorsing specific incidents.
Pentagon spokesperson Brig Gen Patrick Ryder said that the US was not involved in drone strikes in Iran, but declined to comment further.
That US officials’ version of pointing fingers at Israeli for the attack was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, quoting several unidentified sources.
One US official on condition of anonymity told Reuters that it appeared that Israel was behind the attack. Other key US officials declined to comment, only saying that Washington played no role.
Tehran did not formally blame Israel for the attack as Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called it a “cowardly” attack aimed at creating “insecurity” in the country.
But Iranian lawmaker, Hossein Mirzaie, said that there was “strong speculation” Israel was behind the attack.
The attack came amid tension between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear activity and its supply of arms including suicide drones to Russia to use against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Iran’s defence ministry said that the blast caused only minor damage but no casualties.
Amirabdollahian said that “such actions would not impact their experts’ determination to progress in their peaceful nuclear work.”
