What’s the significance of Isfahan? Why did Israel ‘target’ this Iranian city?

Iranian state media on Friday (Apr 19) reported that Israel carried out a military strike inside the country - a move that has escalated tensions in the Middle East region. Israel hasn't claimed responsibility, but source-based media reports noted that Israel currently is assessing its effectiveness and the damage it caused.

In the aftermath, state media reported that Iran's air defence systems were activated in the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz. Explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near Isfahan, which is a city of historic and strategic importance.

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What led to this escalation?

Recently, an attack levelled the five-storey consular annexe of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of whom were senior commanders. A few days after that, the Iranian army launched a major drone and missile attack on Israel in retaliation, with Tehran claiming that all objectives were achieved.

After the drone and missile attack, Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian armed forces chief of staff, told state TV: "Operation Honest Promise... was completed successfully from last night to this morning and achieved all its objectives".

What's the current situation?

The latest alleged attack comes amid fears of major spillover of the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Iran-backed Palestinian militants looming over the region. Meanwhile, world leaders have again appealed for de-escalation and urged all parties to opt for diplomatic channels to resolve conflicts... a scenario that doesn't appear to happen.

The question is, why Isfahan was targeted? What's the significance of this city?

If Israel actually aimed at Isfahan, it could have been a signal or warning to tell the world that it could strike deep inside Iran. Especially, on targets such as Isfahan, which is an Iranian military airbase housing multiple squadrons of f-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft. Isfahan also has significant sites including military research and development facilities and bases. Natanz, a nearby city, is home to one of the country's nuclear enrichment sites.

The senior military officer in Isfahan, Brigadier General Siavash Mihandoost, told state TV that people had heard defence systems shooting at a target in the air, not an explosion on the ground.

Nuclear facilities in Isfahan were reported to be "completely secure", Tasnim said, and the UN's atomic watchdog confirmed "no damage" to Iran's nuclear sites.

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Confusion over the attack?

So far, Israeli or Iranian officials have not given any reaction to the attack. Also, there's no clarity over the extent of the damage. But Iranian media aired conflicting reports, with Tasnim news agency, citing "informed sources," denying that Iran had been attacked from outside.

Tasnim said that "contrary to the rumours and claims" made in foreign media, "there are no reports of an attack from abroad on Iran's central city of Isfahan or any other part of the country".

Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that small drones carried out the attack, possibly launched from inside Iran. The officials also claimed that the radar systems had not detected unidentified aircraft entering Iranian airspace.

Meanwhile, Fars news agency reported "three explosions" close to Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari Army airbase. Iran's space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian, meanwhile, said "several" drones had been "successfully shot down".

Dalirian said on social media platform X there were "no reports of a missile attack".

The official IRNA news agency said that the "reports indicate there was no major damage or large explosions caused by the impact of any air threat".

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)