Conflicting Reports on Possible ‘Drone Attack’ Targeting Military Facility in Isfahan

Satellite image showing damage caused to the surface of a military facility in Isfahan following a drone attack last February (AP)
Satellite image showing damage caused to the surface of a military facility in Isfahan following a drone attack last February (AP)
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Conflicting Reports on Possible ‘Drone Attack’ Targeting Military Facility in Isfahan

Satellite image showing damage caused to the surface of a military facility in Isfahan following a drone attack last February (AP)
Satellite image showing damage caused to the surface of a military facility in Isfahan following a drone attack last February (AP)

Conflicting reports emerged in Iran regarding a possible drone attack on a military facility in Isfahan province. While an agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards claimed that the attack was foiled, Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi refused to confirm the information.

“The Amir al-Momenin complex in Isfahan was the target of a failed attack by a small drone which was foiled by defense systems,” Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Reuters, quoting Tasnim, said the attempt did not cause any damage.

According to channels on Telegram, the facility targeted was affiliated with Revolutionary Guards’ ground forces.

When asked by Iranian media about the report during a press conference, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said: “For now, I cannot confirm this as it needs more investigation.”

Vahidi’s reservations about the reports came after Mohammad Reza Janantari, the deputy of political and security affairs for the governor of Isfahan, denied the attack had taken place.

“Last night, no security incident occurred in Isfahan,” said Janantari, adding that “the security and military apparatus in Isfahan are always ready to face any threats.”

In the past, Tehran has blamed its arch-foe Israel for such attacks, including a drone attack on a military factory near Isfahan in January. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attacks.

The report comes days after Israeli air strikes in Syria hit Iran-linked targets that killed at least two Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) members that served as military advisers in Syria.

In January, a Ministry of Defense industrial center was also targeted by a drone attack, which Iran said was unsuccessful and perpetrated by “mercenaries of the Zionist regime.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Iran was behind nearly all the security threats to Israel.

Speaking at the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Defense Forces General Staff Forum, Netanyahu said: “Iran is responsible for 95% of the security threats against us, including those that you deal with both directly and indirectly.”



Israel Rattled by Talk That Netanyahu May Replace Defense Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv , Israel , 28 October 2023. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv , Israel , 28 October 2023. (Reuters)
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Israel Rattled by Talk That Netanyahu May Replace Defense Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv , Israel , 28 October 2023. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv , Israel , 28 October 2023. (Reuters)

Reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shook the political landscape and sent Israeli financial markets lower on Monday.

Israel's leading television channels and news websites reported that Netanyahu, under pressure from far-right coalition partners, was contemplating firing Gallant and replacing him with a former ally turned rival, Gideon Saar, who is currently a member of the opposition.

Such a move would be a major shock to the political and security landscape, especially with the looming threat of all-out war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The shekel weakened 1% to nearly 3.75 versus the dollar, while main Tel Aviv share indices were down 1.4% to 1.6%.

The Israeli currency was expected to appreciate after data on Sunday showed Israel's inflation rate rose more than expected to 3.6% in August, a jump analysts said would delay rate cuts well into 2025 in contrast to expected rate cuts in the United States and Europe.

Netanyahu denied that he was in negotiations with Saar, though he did not refer to his plans for Gallant. Saar denied that he was negotiating with some members of the coalition.

NETANYAHU AND GALLANT AT ODDS

It would not be the first time Netanyahu has tried to fire Gallant. The two have been at odds over a number of government policies and, more recently, the handling of the war in Gaza and the terms of a possible hostage release and ceasefire deal with the Hamas movement.

Centrist lawmakers criticized Netanyahu for getting sidetracked by political wrangling rather than focusing on the task at hand.

"Instead of the prime minister being busy with victory over Hamas, returning the hostages, with the war against Hezbollah and allowing (evacuated) residents of the north to return to their homes, he is busy with despicable political dealings and replacing the defense minister," centrist lawmaker Benny Gantz wrote on social media.

Police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who heads an ultranationalist party in Netanyahu's coalition, has for months been advocating to replace Gallant and called for his immediate dismissal.

"We must resolve the situation in the north and Gallant is not the right man to lead this," Ben-Gvir said referring to a possible escalation with Hezbollah.

Tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced near the Lebanese border in the north due to daily rocket fire from Hezbollah.

Gallant, who rose to the rank of general during a 35-year military career, on Sunday told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin he was committed to returning residents back to their homes and that the "possibility for an agreed framework is running out."

On Monday, he said the only way to return residents evacuated from the north to their homes was with military action.

In March 2023, Netanyahu fired Gallant after he broke ranks with the government and urged a halt to a highly contested plan to overhaul the judicial system. That triggered mass protests and Netanyahu backtracked.