JERUSALEM (AP) – A missile launched from Syria attacked southern Israel early Thursday and triggered airstrikes near the country’s most secret nuclear reactor, the Israeli military said. In response, he said he attacked the missile launcher and air defense systems of neighboring Syria.
The incident, which marked the most serious violence between Israel and Syria in years, signaled the likely Iranian involvement. Iran, which maintains troops and representatives in Syria, has accused Israel of a series of attacks on its nuclear facilities, including a sabotage at the Natanz nuclear facility on April 11, and promise revenge. He also threatened to complicate U.S.-led attempts to reactivate the international nuclear deal with Iran.
The Israeli army said the missile landed in the Negev region and that the sirens of the air strike sounded in a village near Dimona, where Israel’s nuclear reactor is located, and were recorded. explosions all over Israel. The army later said the incoming missile had caused no damage.
The state-run state news agency SANA said four soldiers had been injured in an Israeli strike near Damascus, which also caused some damage. The agency elaborated nothing more than demanding that its air defense intercept “most of the enemy missiles,” which it said were fired from the Golan Heights, annexed by Israel.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the missile strike or comments from Iran. But on Saturday, the Iranian newspaper Kayhan published an opinion piece by Iranian analyst Sadollah Zarei suggesting that Dimona’s Israeli facilities would be targeted after the attack on Natanz. Zarei cited the idea of ”eye for an eye” in his comments.
It should take action “against the Dimona nuclear facility,” he wrote. “This is because no other action is on the same level as the Natanz incident.”
The Dimona reactor is believed to be the centerpiece of an undeclared nuclear weapons program. Israel does not confirm or deny having a nuclear arsenal.
While Kayhan is a small-circulation newspaper, its editor-in-chief, Hossein Shariatmadari, was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has in the past been described as an adviser.
Zarei has demanded retaliatory strikes in Israel in the past. In November, he suggested that Iran attack the Israeli port city of Haifa for Israel’s alleged involvement in the assassination of a scientist who founded Iran’s military nuclear program decades earlier. However, Iran did not retaliate then.
Israel and Iran are archenemies. Israel accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons and has opposed U.S.-led efforts to reactivate the international nuclear deal with Iran. In the spirit of Israel, then-President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.
Recently, Iran began enriching a small amount of uranium up to 60% purity, the highest level of its program that comes even closer to weapons grade levels. However, Iran insists its program has peaceful purposes. He has also called for greater international control of the Dimona facility.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons capability, and defense officials have acknowledged the preparation of possible attack missions against Iranian targets. Israel has twice bombed other nations in the Middle East to target its nuclear programs.
All incidents occur when Iran negotiates in Vienna with the world powers over the US that can re-enter its nuclear deal with the world powers. Negotiators have described the talks as constructive so far, though they acknowledge that Natanz’s sabotage could strain the talks.
The Israeli government says the agreement will not prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. He also says he does not address Iran’s long-range missile program and its support for hostile representatives in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
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Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, UAE, contributed to this report.