As tensions in the Middle East escalate, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged for calm and de-escalation in the region following reports of an Israeli strike on Iran. While speaking from a G7 meeting in Italy, Blinken clarified that the United States was not involved in any offensive operations.
According to two US officials who spoke to the BBC’s US partner CBS News, an Israeli missile struck Iran overnight. However, the Israeli government has not released an official statement regarding the incident. Iranian state media have reported unconfirmed explosions in the central province of Isfahan but have downplayed the severity of the attack.
Isfahan is a crucial region in Iran, housing a large airbase, missile production complex, and several nuclear facilities. The global nuclear watchdog has confirmed that no nuclear sites were damaged during the attack. Iran had been on high alert after Israel promised to retaliate against Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend.
Tehran asserts that their retaliation was in response to an Israeli air strike on their consulate in Syria on April 1st, resulting in the death of 13 individuals. The situation remains tense in the region as both countries respond to escalating conflicts. The international community is monitoring the situation closely to prevent further hostilities.