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.”



Republicans Mount a Third Attempt to Fund Government, Shutdown Imminent

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, December 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, December 19, 2024. (Reuters)
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Republicans Mount a Third Attempt to Fund Government, Shutdown Imminent

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, December 19, 2024. (Reuters)
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters ahead of a vote to pass the American Relief Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, December 19, 2024. (Reuters)

Republicans in the US Congress mounted a third attempt to avert a government shutdown on Friday with only hours to spare, after two previous plans were scuttled by President-elect Donald Trump and members of their own party.

Republican Representative Ralph Norman told reporters that party leaders planned to hold a vote on a third spending bill, though he did not provide details.

Others said they would not try to win over Democrats whose support likely will be needed to extend funding past midnight Friday (0500 GMT Saturday), when it is due to expire.

"We're not working with Democrats," Republican Representative Nancy Mace said.

Republicans were considering whether to simply extend the deadline for several weeks, according to a source familiar with their discussions. They also were weighing a broader package that would extend funding into March, provide disaster relief, and extend farm and food aid programs due to expire at the end of the year.

"We have a plan," House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters. "We're expecting votes this morning." House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he has been in touch with Johnson, but has not seen the latest Republican plan.

It would be the third attempt for Johnson, who saw his first package -- a bipartisan deal negotiated with Democrats who control the Senate and the White House -- collapse on Wednesday after an online fusillade of criticism by Trump and Elon Musk, his billionaire adviser.

A second package, which paired government funding and disaster aid with Trump's demand to lift the national debt limit, failed to pass the House on Thursday as Democrats and 38 Republicans voted against it.

Democrats accused Johnson of caving to pressure from an unelected billionaire, while Republican opponents said they would not vote for a package that increased government spending and cleared the way for trillions of dollars in increased debt.

Trump, who takes office in one month, overnight ratcheted up his rhetoric, calling for a five-year suspension of the US debt ceiling even after the House rejected a two-year extension.

"Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal," Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform shortly after 1 a.m.

If Congress does not act, funding for everything from law enforcement to national parks will be disrupted and millions of federal workers will go unpaid. The Transportation Security Administration has warned that travelers during the busy Christmas season could face long lines at airports.

The federal government last shut down for 35 days during Trump's first White House term over a dispute about border security. Previous fights over the debt ceiling have spooked financial markets, as a US government default would send credit shocks around the world. The limit has been suspended under an agreement that technically expires on Jan. 1, though lawmakers likely would not have had to tackle the issue before the spring.