A recent Israeli airstrike on Iran reportedly caused damage to an air defense system, as indicated by sources from both Western and Iranian officials. The strike seems to have been strategically aimed at demonstrating Israel’s ability to bypass Iran’s defensive capabilities undetected and render them ineffective.
The targeted defensive battery near Natanz, a crucial city in central Iran for its nuclear weapons program, sustained damage during the attack, according to the officials.
Despite being a response to Iran’s recent aerial assault, the Israeli strike utilized significantly less firepower compared to Tehran’s attack, which was intercepted by Israel and its allies with minimal damage caused.
This latest strike is part of a series of retaliatory actions between the two countries this month, raising concerns about a potential escalation into a broader regional conflict. However, the relatively limited nature of Israel’s strike and the subdued reaction from Iranian authorities have helped ease tensions.
According to two Iranian officials, the strike damaged an S-300 antiaircraft system at a military base in the province of Isfahan. Satellite imagery analyzed by The New York Times supported this account, showing damage to the radar of an S-300 system at the Eighth Shekari Air Base in Isfahan.
The specifics of the weapon used in the attack on the Iranian air defense system remain unclear. However, three Western and two Iranian officials confirmed the deployment of aerial drones and at least one missile fired from a warplane by Israel. Iranian officials had previously suggested that the attack was carried out by small drones launched from within Iranian territory.
Sources indicated that a missile fired from a warplane, equipped with technology to evade Iran’s radar defenses, was launched from a distance away from Israeli or Iranian airspace. This move was intended to keep Jordan out of the conflict after its involvement in shooting down Iranian weapons in the previous week.
The Iranian military reportedly did not detect any unauthorized entry into Iran’s airspace on the day of the strike, including drones, missiles, or aircraft. Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, also reported no missile attacks and no activation of the country’s air defense system.
Israel apparently abandoned a plan for a large-scale retaliatory attack in favor of a more targeted strike aimed at conveying a strong message to end the cycle of reprisals. The use of drones launched from inside Iran and a missile with stealth capabilities was meant to deter Iran from future direct attacks on Israel.
Both Iranian and Israeli officials have refrained from public statements about the attack, likely in an effort to de-escalate tensions and prevent further conflict. This approach allows Tehran to treat the strike as another covert operation in the countries’ ongoing shadow war without eliciting an immediate response.
Eric Schmitt contributed reporting.
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