Israel Retaliates Again After 6 Days... Iran Isfahan Airstrike

Strike on Iranian Mainland Military Base
'Limited Retaliation' Avoiding Extreme Measures

Israel has launched a retaliatory strike in response to Iran's large-scale reprisal airstrike.

US ABC News reported, citing US officials, that Israel carried out a retaliatory airstrike against Iran on the 19th.

On the 14th, when Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel, Israel's missile defense system was activated.
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

This comes six days after Iran conducted an airstrike against Israel on the night of the 13th in retaliation for an attack on its consulate in Syria.

The semi-official Iranian Fars News Agency reported that an explosion was heard at Isfahan Airport, the capital of Isfahan Province, but the cause is unknown. According to Fars News Agency, there is an Iranian 8th Army Aviation base near the site of the explosion. US CNN also reported hearing an explosion near the Iranian Army Aviation base.

Iranian state TV stated that three unidentified small flying objects were intercepted by the air defense system near Isfahan. There have been no reports of damage to Iranian facilities.

Isfahan Province is home to many of Iran's nuclear facilities. However, according to foreign media, Iran has stated that the Isfahan nuclear facilities are unharmed. A senior US official told CNN that Israel did not attack Iran's nuclear facilities, avoiding an extreme measure of striking nuclear sites.

According to CNN, a senior US official said the recent airstrike was a "limited" retaliation for Iran's airstrikes on the 13th and 14th.

Bloomberg News reported that Israel had informed the US government in advance of its plan to retaliate within 24 to 48 hours.

Despite concerns from the US and the international community about escalation, Israel proceeded with the retaliatory strike. On the 14th, US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging restraint in military retaliation. Netanyahu stated that the decision regarding Iran's response would be made independently. However, Israel's wartime cabinet decided to carry out a limited retaliation, taking into account allies' concerns about escalation.

As Israel launches its retaliatory strike, attention is focused on Iran's future response. Iran has declared that if Israel retaliates, even a small Israeli incursion will provoke a massive and harsh reprisal.