Unusually.. Iranian lack of secrecy
The official and semi-official Iranian media dealt with the attack with great caution, as it only published the statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, but it was remarkable this time, according to Western media, that Tehran did not conceal the attack, and the following are the most prominent points in the Iranian official statement:
- On Saturday evening, one of the ministry’s defense industries complexes in Isfahan was subjected to a failed attack by small flying objects (marines).
- One of them was hit by the air defense of the compound, while the other two exploded after falling into defensive traps.
- This failed attack resulted in no casualties, minor damage to the roof of the factory, and no disruption to the complex’s equipment and supplies.
- The Iranian official statement did not specify the nature of the defense industrial complex.
Western and Israeli novels
newspaper reported "The New York Times" It was Israel that carried out the attack via drones, which resulted in a large explosion in the city center of Isfahan on Saturday.
A report for the newspaper, co-authored by Ronen Bergman, a journalist known for his close ties to the Israeli intelligence services, said that the Israeli Foreign Intelligence Service "Mossad" He is behind the operation.
The newspaper attributed its information to high-level US intelligence officials familiar with the talks between Washington and Tel Aviv.
It said the target of the facility was not clear, nor was the damage caused by the strike.
In turn, newspaper quotes "Wall Street Journal" According to American officials and people familiar with the matter, the one who carried out the attack on Isfahan was Israel.
"Channel 12" On Sunday, Israel reported that the attack targeted a drone manufacturing facility "Witness 136"And she said:
- The attacking drones launched from a nearby location via operators "Highly professional" They know their target well.
- The attack combined highly accurate information with highly sophisticated technological capabilities.
Military importance of Isfahan
- Isfahan is a center for Iran’s missile industry, research and development.
- For example, medium-range missiles are being assembled "falling star" (capable of hitting Israel).
- Numerous reports have spoken of Iran supplying Russia with UAVs "the witness" 136 suicide bombers used in the Ukraine war.
- Isfahan has four small nuclear research facilities, which Iran acquired many years ago, but the facility bombed Saturday was in the city center and did not appear to be related to nuclear weapons.
At a critical time
- The strike came at a time when the United States and Israel are in talks to discuss new ways to confront Iran’s nuclear program and its nuclear ambitions.
- coincided with the start of the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blakina visit to the region, his first since returning Benjamin Netanyahu to the post of prime minister, as well as the strike occurred on the same day he was Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, William Burnsin Israel.
- Sometimes Israel gives the US advance warning of an attack or informs US officials during the start of the operation, but it is not clear what happened in this case, according to the report. "The New York Times".
- This is the first known Israeli attack inside Iran since Netanyahu took office a month ago.
- The attack demonstrates the adoption of the strategy forged under his predecessors and rivals, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who expanded Israeli attacks into Iran.
wear in attack
There was confusion at the beginning, with the frequency of information about the attack, especially with reports linking the targeted facility to the manufacture of the drone. "Witness 136"which has become part of Tools Russia in The war against Ukraine.
The order came after a tweet by the advisor to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyakin which he said that the strike in Isfahan is related to the war in Ukraine.
Immediately, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Ukrainian charge d’affairs in Tehran to protest Podolyak’s statement.
This matter opened the door to other possibilities regarding actors other than Israel, but US officials said, without revealing their names, that Israel carried out the attack and motivated by its security concerns, and the matter has nothing to do with what is happening in Ukraine.
A few weeks ago, US officials announced publicly that Tehran is one of Russia’s main suppliers of the drones it is using in the Ukraine war.
They believed that Russia was also trying to obtain Iranian missiles for use in the conflict.
The aircraft used in the attack
The official Iranian news agency confirmed "Erna"that plane "quadcopter" It was used in the attack, and these are its most prominent characteristics
- It is a lightweight aircraft with four separate propellers.
- Simple copies can be purchased from the market.
- Some military versions of it fly for as long as 38 minutes.
- It can carry about 6 kilograms of explosives.
- It is used in various tasks such as surveillance, search and rescue, according to the airforce-technology website.
This does not mean that all of these characteristics apply to the aircraft used in the attack.
Israel record in use "quadcopter"
- In August 2019, Israel sent a plane "quadcopter" explosive device into the heart of a Hezbollah-controlled area in Beirut, where a vital machine for producing precision missiles was destroyed, according to Israeli officials.
- In June 2021, planes exploded "quadcopter" In one of the main manufacturing centers for centrifuges in Karaj, on the outskirts of Tehran. Iran said there was no damage to the site, but satellite imagery showed evidence of significant damage.
- In May 2022, a drone strike targeted a highly sensitive military site outside Tehran where Iran is developing missile, nuclear and drone technology.
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The attack took place on the industrial complex in IsfahanAccording to official Iranian data, on Saturday evening, specifically at 23:30 local time (about 20:00 GMT).
Unusually.. Iranian lack of secrecy
The official and semi-official Iranian media dealt with the attack with great caution, as it only published the statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, but it was remarkable this time, according to Western media, that Tehran did not conceal the attack, and the following are the most prominent points in the Iranian official statement:
- On Saturday evening, one of the ministry’s defense industries complexes in Isfahan was subjected to a failed attack by small flying objects (marines).
- One of them was hit by the air defense of the compound, while the other two exploded after falling into defensive traps.
- This failed attack resulted in no casualties, minor damage to the roof of the factory, and no disruption to the complex’s equipment and supplies.
- The Iranian official statement did not specify the nature of the defense industrial complex.
Western and Israeli novels
The New York Times reported that Israel carried out the drone attack, which resulted in a large explosion in the city center of Isfahan on Saturday.
A report by the newspaper, co-authored by Ronen Bergman, a journalist known for his close ties to the Israeli intelligence services, said that the Israeli foreign intelligence service, Mossad, was behind the operation.
The newspaper attributed its information to high-level US intelligence officials familiar with the talks between Washington and Tel Aviv.
It said the target of the facility was not clear, nor was the damage caused by the strike.
In turn, the Wall Street Journal quoted US officials and people familiar with the matter as saying that Israel carried out the attack on Isfahan.
The Israeli “Channel 12” reported, on Sunday, that the attack targeted a facility for the manufacture of the drone.Witness 136She said:
- The attacking drones were launched from a nearby location by “highly professional” operators who know their target well.
- The attack combined highly accurate information with highly sophisticated technological capabilities.
Military importance of Isfahan
- Isfahan is a center for Iran’s missile industry, research and development.
- For example, medium-range missiles such as the “Shehab” (capable of hitting Israel) are being assembled there.
- Numerous reports have spoken of Iran supplying Russia with suicide bomber “Shahid” 136 drones that were used in the Ukraine war.
- Isfahan has four small nuclear research facilities, which Iran acquired many years ago, but the facility bombed Saturday was in the city center and did not appear to be related to nuclear weapons.
At a critical time
- The strike came at a time when the United States and Israel are in talks to discuss new ways to confront Iran’s nuclear program and its nuclear ambitions.
- coincided with the start of the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blakina visit to the region, his first since returning Benjamin Netanyahu to the post of prime minister, as well as the strike occurred on the same day he was Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, William Burnsin Israel.
- Sometimes Israel gives the United States advance warning of an attack or informs US officials during the start of the operation, but it is not clear what happened in this case, according to the New York Times.
- This is the first known Israeli attack inside Iran since Netanyahu took office a month ago.
- The attack demonstrates the adoption of the strategy forged under his predecessors and rivals, Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who expanded Israeli attacks into Iran.
wear in attack
There was confusion at the beginning, with the frequency of information about the attack, especially with reports linking the targeted facility to the manufacture of the drone.Witness 136became part of the tools Russia in The war against Ukraine.
The order came after a tweet by the advisor to the Ukrainian president, Mykhailo Podolyakin which he said that the strike in Isfahan is related to the war in Ukraine.
Immediately, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Ukrainian charge d’affairs in Tehran to protest Podolyak’s statement.
This matter opened the door to other possibilities regarding actors other than Israel, but US officials said, without revealing their names, that Israel carried out the attack and motivated by its security concerns, and the matter has nothing to do with what is happening in Ukraine.
A few weeks ago, US officials announced publicly that Tehran is one of Russia’s main suppliers of the drones it is using in the Ukraine war.
They believed that Russia was also trying to obtain Iranian missiles for use in the conflict.
The aircraft used in the attack
The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, confirmed that the quadcopter was used in the attack, and these are its most prominent characteristics
- It is a lightweight aircraft with four separate propellers.
- Simple copies can be purchased from the market.
- Some military versions of it fly for as long as 38 minutes.
- It can carry about 6 kilograms of explosives.
- It is used in various tasks such as surveillance, search and rescue, according to the airforce-technology website.
This does not mean that all of these characteristics apply to the aircraft used in the attack.
Israel’s record of quadcopter use
- In August 2019, Israel sent an explosive quadcopter into the heart of a Hezbollah-controlled area in Beirut, where a vital machine for producing precision missiles was destroyed, according to Israeli officials.
- In June 2021, quadcopters exploded at one of the main manufacturing centers for centrifuges in Karaj, on the outskirts of Tehran. Iran said there was no damage to the site, but satellite imagery showed evidence of significant damage.
- In May 2022, a drone strike targeted a highly sensitive military site outside Tehran where Iran is developing missile, nuclear and drone technology.