As news began circulating on Friday regarding the Israeli attack on Iran, Israeli authorities characterized the strike as a restrained reaction aimed at preventing further escalation of tensions.

Analysts on the Israeli occupation's morning news programs noted that the strike seemed to have little impact on military installations in Iran.

Simultaneously, Iranian state television reported that military and nuclear facilities in Isfahan remained secure and aired footage of the city, which appeared tranquil in the spring sunlight. In further detail, a news anchor described the attack as inconsequential.

Social media users in Iran ridiculed the Israeli strike, considering it a feeble retaliation compared to the approximately 300 missiles and drones Iran launched at "Israel" the previous weekend.

In a widely circulated video, an Iranian girl playfully launched a paper airplane at an apartment building, likening it to the Israeli strike. 

Iranian users already making fun of alleged Israeli attack.

And this is being amplified by government media, another sign that this is being massively downplayed. pic.twitter.com/nep90Y4th9

— Sina Toossi (@SinaToossi) April 19, 2024

⚠️ BREAKING ⚠️
⚡🇮🇷🇵🇸| 5 Iranians dead, 20 injured in the aftermath of Israeli attack on Esfahan.... Due to excessive Laughing! pic.twitter.com/CfivaVbbNO

— 𝐄𝐡𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐝 🇮🇷🇵🇸 (@Safarnejad_IR) April 19, 2024

Others shared a composite image featuring a small quadcopter drone labeled "Israeli Response" next to a ballistic missile labeled "Iranian Response".

اسرائیل میومد لب مرز فحش میداد سنگین تر بود:))) #ریقوی_منطقه pic.twitter.com/ji5VXrwAiH

— دلارام (@JokarMahsa) April 19, 2024

Another activist raised questions over the proportionality of Israeli actions, juxtaposing an image of a small drone in the palm of someone's hand asking: "Seriously, did Israel send a small drone in response to the highly accurate Emad missile ?"

جدی اسرائیل در جواب بالستیک عماد، ریزپرنده فرستاده؟؟
لعنتی فحش می‌دادی بیشتر بهمون ضربه می‌خورد #ریقوی_منطقه :))))))))))))))))) pic.twitter.com/MgEwpViV7g

— آدم (@EbneHava) April 19, 2024

Additionally, an unofficial Iranian channel on the Telegram app pondered whether retaliation was warranted, accompanying a similar photo with the inquiry: "Do we need to respond to this?"

In another composite image circulated online, the formidable attacking trio from the Barcelona football club, comprising Lionel Messi of Argentina, Neymar of Brazil, and Luis Suárez of Uruguay, was  labeled as "Iran's offensive lineup."

Positioned to the right of this depiction was an image featuring cartoon characters Joe, Jack, and William, known as the three naive brothers forming "The Dalton Gang" in the American cartoon series of the same name. The trio were described "Israel's offensive lineup."

تفاوت خط حمله‌ی ایران و اسقاطیل#ریقوی_منطقه pic.twitter.com/e07TJafxYa

— فئـودور یاسـروفسکی🚩 (@F_Yaserovsky) April 19, 2024

‘The Israeli authorities are mocking themselves!’

Brigadier General Siavash Mihandoust, the highest-ranking army official in Isfahan, said on state television that any explosions heard there on Friday were not the result of Israeli strikes. Instead, he attributed them to air defense systems intercepting "flying objects."

Even Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir commented on the Israeli response, calling it "lame" in a post on X.

The Israeli occupation has reportedly launched a drone attack at dawn over the Iranian city of #Isfahan. The drones were shot down and no hits were reported.

Israeli minister Ben-Gvir commented on the Israeli response, calling it weak in a post on X.

Speculations about an… pic.twitter.com/0Aq1blt8kU

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 19, 2024

Iranian state media responded to Ben-Gvir's post saying, "The Israeli authorities are ridiculing themselves!"

It is worth noting that speculations about an Israeli attack have been circulating since last week when Iran launched retaliatory strikes at "Israel" and achieved direct hits; the strikes came in response to the Israeli aggression on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier this month.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that Iran does not intend to immediately respond to this attack, adding that it is still not clear who directly carried out the attack.

Read more: Iranian FM at UNSC warns 'Israel' against further adventurism