Israel strikes Iran as explosions are reported in Iraq and Syria as Netanyahu defies Biden warnings and retaliates after Tehran launched unprecedented missile barrage on the Jewish state
- Footage appears to show strikes hit the city of Isfahan, which hosts one of Iran’s nuclear facilities
Video purportedly from Isfahan, Iran, documenting anti-aircraft fire. pic.twitter.com/hutwIQVKLK
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 19, 2024
The US official confirmed the strike after reports from local sources indicated explosions in Isfahan, central Iran, and in the As-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria, as well as in the Baghdad area and Babil Governorate of Iraq, early on Friday morning.
Isfahan is a major city of 2.2 million people.
Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian air space from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 19, 2024
Hezbollah’s second in command Naim Qassem told NBC News that they will escalate if Israel escalates, in response to a question about the possibility of an Israel strike.
Following a drone and missile attack by Iran on Saturday night against Israel, Israel vowed to retaliate. This Iranian strike was purportedly in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike targeting a building near the Iranian embassy in Damascus, resulting in the death of Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior IRGC commander overseeing Iran’s operations in Syria and Lebanon.
Before the Iranian attack on Israel, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that Israel “could count on full US support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened.”
After the Iranian attack, President Biden stated “I’ve just spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel. I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel.”
