*Downing Street: Israel Has Right To Self-Defence
*Iran Vows Retaliation
A REPORTED Israeli counterattack to Iran’s unprecedented salvos has sparked tension over Iran’s next move, with its President, Ebrahim Raisi, vowing that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response.
There were also reports of blasts in Iraq and southern Syria.
Iran’s military chiefs have spoken of a “new equation” ever since Israel’s April 1 airstrikes on its diplomatic compound in Damascus killed seven Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps officials, including its most senior commander in the region.
Tehran said its old doctrine of “strategic patience” of playing a longer game when its assets and individuals are attacked has ended and stressed it’s “strategic deterrence,” a readiness to hit back hard immediately.
Hours after the reported attacks around Isfahan the United Kingdom’s (UK) Downing Street said its understanding was that the source of the strikes on Iran has not been officially confirmed.
But the prime minister’s office said Israel has a right to self-defence, adding: “We have been stressing to Israelis that what matters now is de-escalation.”
So far, there is no official statement from Israel claiming the responsibility for the attack, but the US officials who spoke to the US media said Israel conducted the strikes in a tit for tat.
The Israeli missile struck Iran, two United States (US) officials have told a local news channel, even as Iranian state media cited unconfirmed reports of explosions in central province of Isfahan, adding that air defences shot at flying objects over Isfahan.
Flights have been suspended over several cities, state media said, with Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, downplaying reports of an attack, saying Isfahan was “safe and sound.”
Iran has been on high alert after Israel said it would respond to Iranian missiles and drones fired at Israel on Saturday night, April 13.
Over 300 drones and missiles were fired at Israel by Iran during its unprecedented attack, which Tehran maintained was retaliation for a presumed Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed 13 people, including some of its senior military commanders.
Earlier on Friday, state news agency IRNA reported of an explosion in the province, which was reportedly triggered by air defences, adding that there was no evidence of a missile attack on the country.
“A few hours ago, several small flying objects were sighted and hit in the skies of Isfahan,” said a reporter in a live broadcast on state television, without mention of any reports of damage.
After a temporary suspension, air traffic had resumed, as the government rejected reports that the national security council had convened for an emergency meeting.
Isfahan is home to important facilities of the Iranian defence industry, as its largest nuclear research centre is located there.
According to state media radio reports, there was no danger to the nuclear facilities there.
Several US news outlets, cited government representatives as saying that Israel had carried out a military operation in Iran in response to Iranian airstrikes on Israel at the weekend.
Several US media outlets reported that one or more Israeli missiles had attacked a target in Iran.
The US Department of Defense did not initially confirm these reports, but a military source was quoted as saying it was a “limited attack.”
The US had not been involved, but a report said the Israelis had informed the US government in advance.
On Thursday, representatives from the US and Israel had met “to consult on a series of issues in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel,” the White House said at the time.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other leaders, vowed to respond, in spite of calls from allies to avoid escalation.
Israel also threatened to hit Iran’s military facilities, prompting fears the conflict could turn into an all-out war.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, had on Thursday, April 18, defended his country’s missile and drone attacks on Israel as “legitimate defence under international law” in remarks to the United Nations (UN) Security Council in New York.
Amirabdollahian cited the suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus on April 1, which among others, killed two Generals, as the reason for the retaliatory attacks.
