Former IRGC Commander Says Israel Attacked Isfahan Air Base in Farvardin

Mohammad Ali Jafari, the former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confirmed that following Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel on April 25, the Isfahan air base was targeted by an Israeli missile attack. This is the first time a senior official of the Islamic Republic has acknowledged this attack. Previously, the Iranian government's narrative was that the air defense in Isfahan targeted several 'drones and suspicious objects.' On Tuesday, November 1, during a speech, Jafari stated that Israel used 'advanced American aircraft' to launch 'one or two missiles' at the Isfahan base. Earlier, American media reported that Israel attacked Iran's S-300 air defense system at the 8th Fighter Base in northwestern Isfahan on the night of April 31 in retaliation for the IRGC's missile and drone attacks, causing damage. After the attack attributed to Israel early Friday, Iranian officials denied any attack or damage to the base, but satellite images released afterward indicated damage to the radar systems at the 8th Fighter Base and their replacement. The New York Times also reported days later that Israeli fighter jets dropped two missiles over Iraqi airspace, and when pilots saw that the first missile had destroyed the radar system in Isfahan, they destroyed the second missile in the air to prevent further damage to the Iranian air base. The 8th Fighter Base, also known as Shahid Abbas Babaei Base, is located northeast of Isfahan city and near the main airport of the city, and is considered Iran's central air base. This base is one of 17 active air bases of the Islamic Republic's army, and due to its location in one of the central areas of Iran, it is referred to as the 'heart of the country's air defense.' Additionally, Isfahan hosts two main nuclear sites of Iran, namely the Natanz enrichment facility and the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), which increases the strategic importance of the 8th Fighter Base. On April 25, in response to the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of several senior IRGC commanders, Iran launched a direct missile and drone attack on Israel. Jafari's remarks come as reports indicate Israel is planning a significant military response following Iran's second attack on Israel on October 1. Israeli officials have stated that an Israeli attack will definitely occur and will be 'deadly and precise.' Jafari also claimed that any potential Israeli attack in response to Iran's October 1 missile attack would be 'limited and small.' He told reporters, 'Israel is much smaller than to be able to attack Iran. Of course, Israel may carry out a desperate, limited, and small attack just to say that it responded, but it definitely cannot have an attack worthy of a true promise.' Iranian military and political officials have dubbed the missile and drone attack on Israel in April as 'the true promise' and the attack on October 1 as 'the true promise 2.' He also stated that Iran's response 'depends on the severity of the Israeli attack' and that 'if something significant and noteworthy is done, it will definitely see several times the response.' Mohammad Ali Jafari served as the commander of the IRGC from 2007 to 2019 and is currently the commander of the 'Cultural and Social Headquarters of Baqiatullah' of the IRGC.