The Event: Israel launched a military strike against targets in central Iran late Thursday night (local time).
Iranian Response: Iranian state media confirmed explosions near Isfahan but claimed air defenses intercepted drones, downplaying the incident and stating there was "no damage." Officials attributed the blasts to defensive systems activating.
Israeli Silence: Israeli officials declined to comment officially on the operation, maintaining their standard policy of ambiguity regarding actions in Iran.
Context & Escalation: This strike follows a significant Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel roughly a week prior, which Iran framed as retaliation for an earlier Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria. The Israeli action represents a direct military response within Iran to that attack.
International Stance: The Biden administration publicly stated it had "no comment" on the Israeli strike. Crucially, the article emphasizes that the US was notified by Israel before the operation occurred, but did not endorse it. US officials reportedly urged Israel to carefully consider the potential consequences and scale of their response.
De-escalation Concerns: The article highlights the international community's significant concern that the cycle of attacks and retaliations between Israel and Iran could spiral into a broader regional conflict.
In essence: Israel carried out a retaliatory strike inside Iran after the unprecedented Iranian attack, while Iran minimized its impact. The US was informed in advance but did not approve the action, reflecting deep concerns about further escalation.