Iran and Israel appear to pull back from brink as Gaza bombed again
But deadly blast at Iraq base emphasises high tensions
Iran has dismissed as akin to child’s play the reported Israeli retaliation for an unprecedented Iranian strike, as both sides yesterday appeared to step back from wider conflict stemming from the war in Gaza.
But a deadly blast at an Iraqi military base emphasised the high tensions which persist, and witnesses in Gaza reported more strikes there.
Fears of a wider Middle East war escalated this month.
Israel had warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones one week ago in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike – which Iran blamed on Israel – that levelled the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed seven Revolutionary Guards.
The Israeli retaliation appeared to come on Friday, when Iranian media reported blasts in the central province of Isfahan. Fars news agency reported “three explosions” close to Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase.
“What happened last night was no attack,” Foreign Minister Hossein AmirAbdollahian told NBC News in a Friday interview.
“It was the flight of two or three quadcopters, which are at the level of toys that our children use in Iran.”
He added that, “As long as there is no new adventure on behalf of the Israeli regime against Iran’s interests, we will have no response.”
No IsraelI commeNt
Israeli officials have made no public comment on what, according to a senior US congressional source who spoke to AFP, were retaliatory Israeli strikes against Iran.
Tensions soared after the attack on Iran’s consulate, but violence involving Iran-backed groups had already surged throughout the Middle East alongside the Gaza war.
Officials in Iraq yesterday said one person was killed and eight wounded in an explosion at an Iraqi military base housing a coalition of pro-Iranian armed groups. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
Last weekend, Iran launched its firstever attack directly targeting Israel. Only minor damage was reported and there were no fatalities.
Iran said its attack was in retaliation for the April 1 strike on its Damascus embassy consular annex.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under international pressure over the civilian toll in Gaza’s war.