Netanyahu hints at Isfahan hit in context of harming Iran capabilities

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
4 Feb 13:46

Israeli media outlets reported, citing sources, that Netanyahu expressed willingness to Macron to provide Kiev with "military objects".

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a signing ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Aug 19, 2019 (AP)

When asked whether "Israel" was responsible for the recent drone attack targeting an Iranian military facility in Isfahan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to reporters that "Israel" is taking all actions possible to target "Iran's capabilities" on multiple fronts, without explicitly confirming or denying culpability.

This comes after Iranian senior political analyst Mohammad Marandi said on Sunday that "Israel" will pay the price for its failed attempt of conducting a drone attack in the central city of Isfahan.

"Not a good week for the apartheid regime either at home or abroad. However, even though Netanyahu and his western-backed terrorist allies in northern Iraq have failed, there will be consequences. They both need to learn that punishment comes with failure too," Marandi said on Twitter.

Netanyahu made the remarks following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, adding that the two focused "mainly on the Iranian issue. There is a very great rapprochement between Israel and France in the way we see the Iranian threat,” The Jerusalem Post reported.

“We operate independently against Iran at different levels, but this activity is also systematically aimed at degrading or harming Iran's capabilities against us,” Netanyahu said.

“But of course, it also harms Iran's capabilities or reduces them in relation to other arenas.”

An unnamed official told the Times of "Israel" news site that the Israeli PM expressed willingness to Macron to provide Kiev with what he called "military objects".

On Sunday, the Iranian Defense Ministry announced in a statement that a drone attack on a military facility in Isfahan was intercepted by the air defense units. It was intended to attack one of the ongoing military workshops by using Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs).

No casualties were reported and only minor damage was caused to the roof of the facility. Normal functions and operations continue as usual.

On his Twitter account, the senior advisor to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky Mykhailo Podolyak said, after the failed attack, that “Ukraine did warn you,” to which Tehran summoned Ukraine's Ambassador to Iran over controversial comments.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu said in an interview on CNN that he was "certainly looking into" providing Kiev with military support, which included supplying Kiev with the US-made Iron Dome technology.

Netanyahu further validated statements that the US has transferred stockpiles of artillery stationed in "Israel" to Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned earlier this week that “all countries that supply weapons [to Ukraine] should understand that we will consider these [weapons] to be legitimate targets for Russian armed forces,” referring to reports that "Tel Aviv" is planning on sending military equipment to Kiev.

“Any attempts – implemented or even unrealized but announced, for the supply of additional, new, or some other weapons – have led and will lead to an escalation of this crisis. And everyone should be aware of this,” she added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited "Israel" earlier this week, expressed to Netanyahu that US President Joe Biden expects "Tel Aviv" to “provide support for all of Ukraine’s needs,” including the fields of economy and security.