Netanyahu defies Biden days after unprecedented missile barrage on Jewish state
By WILL POTTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Israel has conducted airstrikes on a target in Iran, US officials say.
An official told ABC News that strikes hit a site in Iran, however it is unclear what exact target was hit or the extent of the damage.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show anti-aircraft fire striking over the city of Isfahan in central Iran, which hosts one of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iranian news outlet FARS reported that the strikes hit the region at approximately 5am local time, and were located ‘near Isfahan Airport and the eighth hunting base of the Army Air Force.’
It comes in response to Iran launching a barrage of hundreds of drones and rockets at Israel on Saturday, which was largely thwarted by Israel and its international allies.
The Biden administration had stressed the need for de-escalation from Israel following Saturday’s strikes, urging them to ‘take the win’ of the foiled Iranian attack.
Multiple airports in Iran have been closed following the Israeli strikes, and further unconfirmed explosions have reportedly hit Iraq and Syria.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted soon after reports of the strikes: ‘Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian air space from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace.’
Although the US military played a central role in halting Iran’s strikes on Saturday, President Biden said he made it ‘very clear’ to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he had to act ‘carefully and strategically.’
Biden urged Netanyahu to ‘take the win’ of the derailed attack, and cautioned that the US would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive.
The Iranian attack came in retaliation to Israel’s strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 2, which killed 13 people including two generals in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.