Islamic Republic Denies Targeting of 'Air Defense System at Natanz Facilities'

The website 'Noor News', affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, reported that claims regarding 'damage' to part of the 'air defense system' following an attack early Friday in an area near Isfahan are 'false' and labeled the news as 'media manipulation' by Western outlets. Yesterday, several news agencies and international media cited government sources stating that during the early Friday attack on Iran, 'the air defense radar site at the Natanz facilities was targeted by three Israeli missiles.' ABC News reported, citing a senior American official, that the 'very limited' attack was carried out by an Israeli fighter jet firing three missiles from 'outside Iran.' According to this American official, the attack targeted an air defense radar site near Isfahan, which is used to protect the Natanz nuclear facilities. This senior American official added that initial assessments indicate that this site was destroyed as a result of the Israeli attack, but this assessment is still being finalized. A 'senior military source' also told Fox News that the Israeli attack last night targeted a military base next to the Natanz nuclear facilities and that these facilities were not the target of the Israeli attack. One of these sources told Fox News: 'The Israelis hit their intended targets.' According to him, the fact that Israel was able to strike a primary target multiple times indicates the ineffectiveness of the Russian-made air defense system used by the Islamic Republic. According to Fox News, the air defense systems at this military base, which are used to protect the Natanz nuclear facilities, were among the targets of this attack. Fox News further reported that Israel used missiles and drones in this attack. Despite all these reports, the 'informed source' from the Supreme National Security Council's website claimed that 'thanks to the vigilance of the radar and defense systems deployed in the area,' what were referred to as 'unidentified drones' were targeted 'before approaching the sensitive areas.' Government-affiliated media in Iran attempted to downplay the news of several explosions heard in Isfahan and the subsequent cancellation of all flights from Tehran and several cities from the early hours of the news release. Nevertheless, hours after these explosions, Western sources confirmed that these incidents were part of a 'limited' Israeli response to missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic on Israel. The reason behind the Islamic Republic's lies regarding the Israeli attack; part of the agenda to downplay the Israeli attack in the Islamic Republic's media; discussions with Hossein Aryan regarding the reactions of social media users to the recent attack attributed to Israel. Reuters: American officials say the Islamic Republic downplays the Israeli attack because it does not want an all-out war. The Islamic Republic's efforts to minimize the Israeli attack; Amir-Abdollahian: It was not a drone, it was a toy.