NYTimes: Israel confirms privately it was behind Saturday's bombing of Iran
TEL AVIV — A drone attack on an Iranian military facility that resulted in a large explosion in the center of the city of Isfahan on Saturday was the work of the Mossad, Israel’s premier intelligence agency, according to senior intelligence officials who were familiar with the dialogue between Israel and the United States about the incident.
The facility’s purpose was not clear, and neither was how much damage the strike caused. But Isfahan is a major center of missile production, research and development for Iran, including the assembly of many of its Shahab medium-range missiles, which can reach Israel and beyond.
Weeks ago, American officials publicly identified Iran as the primary supplier of drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, and they said they believed Russia was also trying to obtain Iranian missiles to use in the conflict. But U.S. officials said they believed this strike was prompted by Israel’s concerns about its own security, not the potential for missile exports to Russia.
The strike came just as Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was beginning a visit to Israel, his first since Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office as prime minister. The director of the Central Intelligence Agency, William J. Burns, visited Israel last week, though it is not clear anything about the operation in Isfahan was discussed.
American officials quickly sent out word on Sunday morning that the United States was not responsible for the attack. One official confirmed that it had been conducted by Israel but did not have details about the target. Sometimes Israel gives the United States advance warning of an attack or informs American officials as an operation is being launched. It is unclear what happened in this case.
Israel Launched Drone Attack on Iranian Facility, Officials Say https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/29/world/middleeast/iran-drone-strike-israel.html?unlocked_article_code=5FORpjKn863-pkDULg8mZNYEPXSMf9m_AlmHFu40krUU5MD8b-geeJh5ouhpH7yRvyytc7FUOfI6f3qqxbRbQX7vFrBH_Xpz6oWXHflExuOJUOihIhc8E2yAkZkMP4YMl6diLJPrQRdAFPjE_s_LOltLUZx2Kx6Vi4e3403vRi56LpollcMxh0sQTyS8xM9i8oFJ2YAnEo6Tz-b7RkIJBCOJIqwfQcmmclp02jtARdv3yzIoDOoMbP8H_pjTBhxsps218KA01G4j-YsBjN3AigLbq02q0IBfQdgqwRzMpRgH7hjHs4fjMHuww67ABZarbn8I6f2NJ07YUViBeY9XAW4Mf67ZCuQK2n7V
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