Reports: Israel Carries Out Limited Counterattack On Iran
IDF reportedly also destroys Iranian terrorists assets in Syria and Iraq.
Israel carried out a counterstrike against Iran on Friday morning, with reports varying as to what was hit. This post will be updated as more information is confirmed.
As always, initial reports can be wrong, but it does seem clear from multiple sources that some sort of counterattack was carried out in a limited fashion.
The New York Times confirmed the Israeli retaliatory strike citing both Israeli and Iranian officials. “The Israeli military struck Iran early on Friday, according to two Israeli defense officials, in what appeared to be Israel’s first military response to Iran’s attack on Israel five days earlier,” the NYT reports. “Three Iranian officials, who accused Israel of the attack, confirmed that a strike had hit a military air base near the city of Isfahan, in central Iran, early on Friday.”
The Israeli response comes after Iran on Saturday night fired around 300 drones and missiles towards Israel, the biggest aerial attack on the Jewish States since the First Gulf War in 1991.
Video purportedly from Isfahan, Iran, documenting anti-aircraft fire. pic.twitter.com/hutwIQVKLK
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 19, 2024
According to Frace24 TV channel, a ‘big explosion’ was reported in the Iranian city of Isfahan, home to several rogue nuclear weapons sites:
Iran’s state TV reported Friday that “big explosions” were heard near the central city of Isfahan, as a news agency said flights were suspended over the capital Tehran and other cities.
“News sources are reporting hearing big explosions in Isfahan province,” state television said, adding that the cause was not immediately clear.
Mehr news agency reported that “flights to Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, and airports in the west, northwest and southwest have been suspended.
“Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks,” the Associated Press reported Friday.
Israel reportedly hit the 8th Shikari base of Isfahan. One of the bases where F-14s are kept.
Not yet confirmed pic.twitter.com/C0i0kRpbfS
— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) April 19, 2024
Iranian state-run media confirmed strikes on several cities.
“Videos circulating on social media purportedly show the aftermath of the strikes, with air defense systems engaging and air raid sirens blaring near the Shahid Salami military base in Isfahan, Iran,” the BBC reports. “Iran’s Fars news agency says explosions have been heard near Isfahan international airport and an army base in Isfahan city, activating local air defence systems.”
BREAKING: The attack on Iran at Isfahan, attributed to Israel, was carried out NOT by drones or land to air missiles, but by long range missiles launched from AIRCRAFT, the Jerusalem Post has confirmed: https://t.co/oRkAS8Bbqe
— Yonah Jeremy Bob (@jeremybob1) April 19, 2024
Additional Footage showing Anti-Aircraft Fire earlier over the City of Isfahan in Central Iran. pic.twitter.com/rRgATvmojw
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 19, 2024
Iranian terror assets in Syria and Iraq also hit
Israel also targeted Iranian terrorists assets in Syria and Iraq. The retaliatory strike “reportedly extended to sites in southern Syria and Iraq,” the Israeli TV channel i24NEWS noted.
The U.S. was aware of the Israeli counterstrike, news reports indicate. “The United States received notification before Israel’s attack, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters, which came days after Iran launched an unprecedented strike,” the Reuters reported. “Washington and other global powers had pressed to Israel not to respond, or to ensure any further retaliation.”
According to the NBC News, the “U.S. was not involved in Israel’s strike in Iran, a source familiar with the situation confirmed.”
Multiple sources confirm White House was aware and accepting of the Israeli target set. Administration may deny that for Iranian eyes and ears, but notable Israel synchronized with US in advance.
— Richard Goldberg (@rich_goldberg) April 19, 2024
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials did not comment of the strike, The Times of Israel reported Friday morning:
Israel’s military tells AFP that “we don’t have a comment at this time” when asked about reports of explosions and strikes in Iran and Syria.
The Prime Minister’s Office refuses to confirm to The Times of Israel that Israel is behind explosions in Isfahan.
The IDF, on Telegram, issued several rocket alerts for the residents of northern Israel Friday morning, suggesting activities by the Iran-backed terror militia Hezbollah based in Lebanon.
Western leaders call for ‘restraint’
While the Biden administration ‘distanced’ itself from the Israeli military response in the wake of the recent Iranian drone and missile strike, China along with some European and Arab leaders criticised Jerusalem’s retaliation.
“European leaders urge restraint after Iran explosion reports,” Germany’s state-owned DW News reported.
The British newspaper Telegraph covered the international reaction:
World leaders have called for “absolute restraint” after Israel escalated its conflict with Iran by launching strikes near a military base.
Ursula von der Leyen, the chief of the European commission, said it is “absolutely necessary” that “all sides refrain from further action” after explosions were reported early this morning near Iran’s Isfahan air base, which sits close to a major nuclear facility.
Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, called for “absolute de-escalation”, following Iranian reports it had shot down three drones in the area, while prime minister Rishi Sunak said he wants to see “calm heads prevail across the region”. (…)
China voiced opposition to “any actions that further escalate tensions”, in an apparent criticism of Israel’s retaliatory strike.
"This may be an early demonstration of some new capabilities that Israel has and that the Iranians were not aware of."@mdubowitz joins @CNN to break down Israel's retaliatory strike near an Iranian nuclear facility.
Watch 👇 pic.twitter.com/YeULSTJbFJ
— FDD (@FDD) April 19, 2024
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Comments
If the attack was carried out with aircraft-launched missiles that would mean the anti-aircraft fire was useless and only for show. It is a shame that Israel could not drop the big 10,000 lb bunker buster on the facility.
You’ve actually highlighted the critical limitation of the IAF; it has no heavy bombers. The max payload capacity of their F-15s (per hardpoint) is only 5K-lbs (roughly). That’s enough to accommodate the GBU-28, which the IAF has and has apparently used in GAZA. But, it’s not nearly enough to accommodate the larger deep-penetrating bunker buster, something like the GBU-57A. That’s so big, our B-52s can only carry two of them. To take out Iran’s critical nuclear infrastructure – which is believed to be buried 60’+ underground – Iran is going to have to figure out a way to deliver something like the GBU-57A…or they’re going to need our help, which Biden clearly isn’t going to give.
Israel targeted a meeting of IRGC members and terrorist proxies in Baghdad with a smart bomb. The strikes in Iran targeted the airbase that housed their remaining F-14’s. All of these attacks appear to have used stand off weapons. Degrading Iran’s ability to use air assets paves the way for a massive air strike. Iran now has a choice to make. You can bet the house that Saudi Arabia and the gulf states knew before we did that this was going to happen.
“You can bet the house that Saudi Arabia and the gulf states knew before we did that this was going to happen.”
And while they probably would never admit it publicly, they’re all cheering Israel on. Iran is a threat to all of them.
I’m looking forward to the reports out of Iran. Perhaps Baghdad Bob’s cousin (Tehran Tim?} will assure us that the Israelis only hit hospitals and orphanages. In any event, payback’s a bitch and Biden looks even weaker and more incompetent. I hope the attack achieved Israel’s goals and that all of their service members returned to base safely.
It is the Iranian leader’s 85th birthday today.
That’s too bad. The Israelis would be doing themselves and the Iranian people a favor by “decapitating the leadership”.
World,
You’re welcome.
Israel
Israel:
You are mean nasty ugly murdering Jews!
World
/that’s how it is.
Yep…they’re stupid like that….and ungrateful.
No need to worry. That corrupt kid sniffing reptile in the WH has relaxed enough sanctions against Iran so they’ll have plenty of assets to rebuild and fund more terrorism.
Annnnd here we GO!
I think the disproportionate quantity of fire is something to ponder.
Iran fired 300+ missiles and such at Israel, and a few blew up in the desert, with the rest intercepted.
Israel fired a few dozen (maybe?) missiles and we have a little video of anti-aircraft fire from Iran, and NO propaganda about shooting down all of the evil Joo firepower.
I think the contrast is intended by Israel. (Along with the “We know where you live and can visit any time” aspect.)
Agree. This was a “send a message” strike. I would have included a missile to Kharg Island to make the point that their economy can be destroyed any time Israel likes.
A ‘send a message’ strike and perhaps a ‘probe the perimeter’ strike. Israel learned quite a bit about the Iranian air defenses in this little skirmish something they’ll definitely implement into their next action plan, whenever that time comes again.
I think that’s a fair assessment.
Both primary sides and pretty much all the peripheral players are being very low key about this latest operation. Just heard a Fox radio report that Iran isn’t planning on any response at this time. Not much verifiable footage or info to be had.
Interesting.
It’s so galling that calls for “restraint,” “proportionality” and the like, are always issued by European, Leftist dhimmis and American Dhimmi-crats, against Israel, but, are never directed at the malignant, goose-stepping, fanatical and genocidal Islamofascists and Muslim supremacists whose belligerent ideology and behavior represents the direct source of strife and warfare, in the contemporary middle east.
Sure they are. They’re always directed at both sides equally. “You, stop hitting that guy; and you, stop defending yourself.”
You’re a fucking moron Justice Millhouse. It’s always the Jews who have to show restraint and never the aggressor. Pull your head out of your arse and see the world as it really is.
And you’re a liar. These calls always target both sides equally, thus perpetuating the false idea that both sides are equally to blame. They always call on the aggressor as well as the victim to exercise restraint. Of course the aggressor always ignores them. Usually the victim does as well, but the end result is that the victim unfairly shares the blame.