Israel Suspected, Iran Downplays
Explosions rocked Isfahan, Iran, in a suspected Israeli attack. Tehran downplayed the incident, indicating no plans for retaliation to avoid a wider regional war.
Iranian officials described the incident as an attack by "infiltrators," not Israel, and said air defenses destroyed three drones. Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian called the attack an attempt by Israel to claim victory, but said the drones caused no damage or casualties.
Israel and the U.S. declined to comment. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken reaffirmed commitment to Israel's security but denied involvement in offensive operations.
The incident follows months of escalating violence between Israel and Iranian proxies in the Middle East, fueled by the Gaza conflict. Israel had vowed to retaliate after Iran's first-ever direct attack last Saturday, which caused no casualties.
The international community, including the G7, called for restraint and urged all parties to prevent further escalation.
While Iran downplayed the incident, the attack highlights the ongoing tensions and the risk of a wider regional conflict.