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Several unidentified
drones Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...
attacked an ammunition factory in
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
on the night of January 28–29, 2023, with other unexplained explosions across Iran, including a fire in an oil refinery in Tabriz and reports of explosions and fire in Karaj. Israel has given no comment, but the
Mossad Mossad ( , ), ; ar, الموساد, al-Mōsād, ; , short for ( he, המוסד למודיעין ולתפקידים מיוחדים, links=no), meaning 'Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations'. is the national intelligence agency ...
has been implicated by most Western intelligence and Iranian sources in similar successful attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities and defense industry, especially in 2020. Iran intensified its threats to destroy Israel, despite downplaying the attacks. The governments of Russia and Ukraine publicly reacted to the events. Russia condemned the attack, while Ukraine said that Iran had been warned about supplying Russia with drones.


Background

There were a number of explosions and fires around Iranian military, nuclear and industrial facilities in 2020. In 2021, Iran accused Israel of sabotaging its key Natanz nuclear site and vowed revenge. In July 2022, Iran said that it had arrested a sabotage team made up of Kurdish militants working for Israel who planned to blow up a sensitive defence industry centre in Isfahan.


Explosions

On the night of January 28–29, 2023, three unidentified
drones Drone most commonly refers to: * Drone (bee), a male bee, from an unfertilized egg * Unmanned aerial vehicle * Unmanned surface vehicle, watercraft * Unmanned underwater vehicle or underwater drone Drone, drones or The Drones may also refer to: ...
attacked an ammunition factory in
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
, amidst other unexplained explosions across Iran. '' The New York Times'' stated that it was likely that the drones used near Isfahan were quadcopters with a short flight range, and also that since Isfahan is distant from Iran's borders, it was likely that the drones were launched from inside Iran.


Isfahan

On January 28, 2023 at 23:30 local time an ammunition factory of the Iranian Defence Ministry in
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
was attacked by three drones, causing a large explosion. The ministry said that the attack occurred in Imam Khomeini Street of
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
, and that the damage to the buildings was minor. According to the ministry, three drones were shot down and the attack was unsuccessful. Some citizens said they heard three or four explosions.


Other explosions or fires

There was a fire in an oil refinery in Tabriz during the same night. '' The Wall Street Journal'' described the relation between the Tabriz fire and the Isfahan attack as unclear. According to '' Iran International'', there were reports of explosions and fire in Karaj on the same night. Another explosion was reported at an oil facility in Azarshahr. An earthquake near the city of Khoy occurred on the same day, which led to confusion about whether targets were struck or had been affected by the earthquake.


Reactions

According to anonymous United States officials and people familiar with the operation, the attacks were conducted by Israeli forces, on which Israel had no comment. '' The Jerusalem Post'' called the attack "a tremendous success", paraphrasing various anonymous sources, and said Iran is downplaying it. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted: "Explosive night in Iran – drone & missile production, oil refineries. Ukraine did warn you." Iran summoned the Ukrainian
chargé d'affaires A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...
over the tweet.


References

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