New York Times: Tracking the Missile Launched at Natanz Air Defense Was Not Possible for the Islamic Republic

Two Western officials told the New York Times that the missile launched in Israel's attack on the air defense at the Natanz nuclear site was equipped with a type of technology that the Islamic Republic's radar defense systems could not track. Two Iranian officials also told the newspaper that the Islamic Republic's military forces were unable to identify and track drones, missiles, and aircraft during the early morning attack on Friday. They did not provide further explanation on this matter. The New York Times reported that the warplane from which the missile was launched was 'far from the airspace of Israel or Iran,' and thus, no fighter jets or missiles entered Jordan's airspace. The newspaper described the operation carried out in the early morning of Friday as 'calculated' and 'designed to keep Jordan away from any potential consequences of a retaliatory attack by the Islamic Republic.' Jordan assisted in the attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel last Saturday by helping the U.S. and its partners in downing drones and missiles launched towards Israel. According to reports, the attack attributed to Israel on Friday morning was beyond what the Islamic Republic officials described as 'a few small drones.' The New York Times wrote that this attack included at least one missile fired by the Israeli Air Force targeting a radar air defense site near Isfahan, which is part of the defense system for the Natanz nuclear site. The New York Times noted that satellite images indicated damage to the radar of the Russian-made 'S-300' system at the Isfahan airbase. The report states that this attack was deliberately designed to send a message about the consequences of a broader attack using drones and missiles equipped with evasion technology for the Islamic Republic. Two Western officials told the newspaper that 'Israel's use of drones launched from inside Iran and a missile that could not be identified was designed to make the Islamic Republic think twice before a direct attack on Israel in the future.' Meanwhile, official media in Iran labeled the Israeli attack on Friday morning as 'false' and declared the news published in this regard as 'media manipulation' by Western outlets. Some news agencies and international media have reported, citing government sources, that during the early morning attack, 'the air defense radar site of the Natanz facilities was targeted by three Israeli missiles.' The ABC news network reported, citing a senior U.S. official, that the 'very limited' attack on Friday morning involved the firing of three missiles by an Israeli fighter jet from 'outside Iran.' According to this U.S. official, the attack targeted an air defense radar site near Isfahan, which is used to protect the Natanz nuclear facilities. A senior U.S. official stated that Israel's ability to target a key site multiple times indicates the ineffectiveness of the Russian-made air defense system used by the Islamic Republic. The shadow battle between Israel and the Islamic Republic has entered a new phase. Noavd Toubian: Israel remains in a better position in relations with Arab countries. Menashe Amir: Israel's response was a military masterpiece; now the ball is in the Iranian regime's court. Reuters reports on U.S. military readiness in confronting the Islamic Republic and Israel. The Islamic Republic denied that the 'air defense system of the Natanz facilities was targeted.' Reuters: U.S. officials say the Islamic Republic downplays the Israeli attack because it does not want an all-out war.