Iran has brushed off Israel’s reported retaliation as akin to child’s play following an unprecedented Iranian strike, signaling a temporary easing of tensions between the two sides emerging from the conflict in Gaza.
Despite this, a fatal explosion at an Iraqi military base highlighted the lingering high tensions in the region, alongside continued deadly Israeli attacks in Gaza and escalating clashes in the West Bank.
Concerns have heightened in recent weeks that the escalating exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran could escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Israel had issued warnings of retaliation after Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones in a direct attack on Israeli territory a week prior.
The Iranian attack was seen as retaliation for an airstrike, largely attributed to Israel, that destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus and resulted in the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards on April 1.
Reports of explosions in Isfahan province on Friday, as noted by Iranian media, were believed to be the Israeli retaliation.
Speaking to NBC News, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian downplayed the incident, stating that what occurred was not an attack but rather the flight of a few drones resembling toys commonly used by children in Iran.
He asserted that Iran would refrain from any response as long as Israel did not undertake any new actions deemed damaging to Iran’s interests.
