2023 Iran drone attacks
{{Short description|2023 attack on Iranian targets}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox military attack
| name = 2023 drone attacks on Iran
| date = January 28, 2023
| partof = Iran–Israel proxy conflict
| location = Isfahan, Iran
| target = {{flag|Iran}}
| executed_by = {{flag|Israel}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}
Several unidentified drones attacked an ammunition factory in Isfahan on the night of January 28–29, 2023, with other unexplained explosions across Iran, including a fire in an oil refinery in Tabriz and reports of explosions and fire in Karaj.
Israel gave no comment, but the Mossad was implicated by most Western intelligence and Iranian sources in similar successful attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities and defense industry, especially in 2020. Iran intensified its threats to destroy Israel, despite downplaying the attacks.{{Cite news |title=Israeli drone attack on Iranian weapons factory was phenomenal success |language=en-US |work=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-729959 |access-date=2023-02-17}}
The governments of Russia and Ukraine publicly reacted to the events. Russia condemned the attack, while Ukraine said that Iran had been warned about supplying Russia with drones.
Background
There were a number of explosions and fires around Iranian military, nuclear and industrial facilities in 2020. In 2021, Iran accused Israel of sabotaging its key Natanz nuclear site and vowed revenge. In July 2022, Iran said that it had arrested a sabotage team made up of Kurdish militants working for Israel who planned to blow up a sensitive defence industry centre in Isfahan.{{cite news |title=Iran says Israel-linked agents planned attack on defence plant |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-says-israel-linked-agents-planned-attack-defence-plant-2022-07-27/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=Reuters |date=July 27, 2022 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129045332/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-says-israel-linked-agents-planned-attack-defence-plant-2022-07-27/ |url-status=live }}
Explosions
On the night of January 28–29, 2023, three unidentified drones attacked an ammunition factory in Isfahan, amidst other unexplained explosions across Iran.{{cite news |title=Iran thwarts drone attack on military site |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-heard-military-plant-irans-central-city-isfahan-state-media-2023-01-28/ |website=reuters.com |date=January 29, 2023 |agency=Reuters |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129000206/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-heard-military-plant-irans-central-city-isfahan-state-media-2023-01-28/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Fazeli |first1=Yaghoub |title=Iran says explosion at military site in Isfahan caused by drone attack |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/01/29/Explosion-reported-at-military-facility-in-central-Iran |website=english.alarabiya.net |date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=Iran says explosion at military site in Isfahan caused by drone attack |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129000324/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/01/29/Explosion-reported-at-military-facility-in-central-Iran |url-status=live }}
The New York Times stated that it was likely that the drones used near Isfahan were quadcopters with a short flight range, and also that since Isfahan is distant from Iran's borders, it was likely that the drones were launched from inside Iran.{{cite news |last1=Fassihi |first1=Farnaz |title=Iran Says It Thwarted a Drone Attack on a Munitions Facility |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/28/world/middleeast/iran-drone-attack.html |access-date=January 29, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=January 28, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129035108/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/28/world/middleeast/iran-drone-attack.html |url-status=live }}
=Isfahan=
On January 28, 2023 at 23:30 local time an ammunition factory of the Iranian Defence Ministry in Isfahan was attacked by three drones, causing a large explosion. The ministry said that the attack occurred in Imam Khomeini Street of Isfahan, and that the damage to the buildings was minor. According to the ministry, three drones were shot down and the attack was unsuccessful.{{cite web |title=Iran reports drone attack on defense facility in Isfahan |url=https://apnews.com/article/iran-government-business-drones-2ea4c51f7be1e377b95d1fccc1c963ad |website=apnews.com |date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005555/https://apnews.com/article/iran-government-business-drones-2ea4c51f7be1e377b95d1fccc1c963ad |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Iran thwarts drone attack on military site, state media report |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-heard-military-plant-irans-central-city-isfahan-state-media-2023-01-28/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129002227/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-heard-military-plant-irans-central-city-isfahan-state-media-2023-01-28/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Iran reports drone attack on defense facility in Isfahan |url=https://www.thehour.com/news/article/iran-reports-drone-attack-on-defense-facility-17748867.php |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The Evening Hour |language=en-US |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129083917/https://www.thehour.com/news/article/iran-reports-drone-attack-on-defense-facility-17748867.php |url-status=live }} Some citizens said they heard three or four explosions.
=Other explosions or fires=
There was a fire in an oil refinery in Tabriz during the same night. The Wall Street Journal described the relation between the Tabriz fire and the Isfahan attack as unclear. According to Iran International, there were reports of explosions and fire in Karaj on the same night. Another explosion was reported at an oil facility in Azarshahr.{{cite web |last1=Shabbir |first1=Fahad |title=Explosion Occurs At Motor Oil Production Facility In Iran's Azarshahr – Reports |url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/explosion-occurs-at-motor-oil-production-faci-1633237.html |website=urdupoint.com |publisher=Urdu Point |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129005107/https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/explosion-occurs-at-motor-oil-production-faci-1633237.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Kuzmich |first1=Elena |title=New "Bavovna" in Iran: an oil refinery is burning |url=https://tsn.ua/ru/svit/novaya-bavovna-v-irane-gorit-neftepererabatyvayuschiy-zavod-2253496.html |website=tsn.ua |date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=TCH |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129002630/https://tsn.ua/ru/svit/novaya-bavovna-v-irane-gorit-neftepererabatyvayuschiy-zavod-2253496.html |url-status=live }}
Reactions
According to anonymous United States officials and people familiar with the operation, the attacks were conducted by Israeli forces, on which Israel had no comment.{{cite news |last1=Nissenbaum |first1=Dion |last2=Faucon |first2=Benoit |last3=Lubold |first3=Gordon |title=Israel Strikes Iran Amid New International Push to Contain Tehran |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-strikes-iran-amid-new-international-push-to-contain-tehran-11675004979 |access-date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129151416/https://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-strikes-iran-amid-new-international-push-to-contain-tehran-11675004979 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Hafezi |first1=Parisa |last2=Stewart |first2=Phil |last3=Stewart |first3=Phil |date=January 29, 2023 |title=Israel appears to have been behind drone strike on Iranian factory -US official |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-heard-military-plant-irans-central-city-isfahan-state-media-2023-01-28/ |access-date=2023-01-29 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129002227/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-heard-military-plant-irans-central-city-isfahan-state-media-2023-01-28/ |url-status=live }}
The Jerusalem Post called the attack "a tremendous success", paraphrasing various anonymous sources, and said Iran is downplaying it.{{cite news |last1=Jeremy Bob |first1=Yonah |title=Drone attack on Iranian weapons factory was phenomenal success – sources |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-729959 |access-date=January 29, 2023 |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129103650/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-729959 |url-status=live }}
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite news | last1=Rasmussen | first1= Sune Engel | title=Iran Ammunition Factory Hit by Blast | date=January 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/iran-ammunition-factory-hit-by-blast-11674951968 |access-date= January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230129003837/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/iran-ammunition-factory-hit-by-blast-11674951968 |archive-date= 2023-01-29 |url-status=live }}
{{cite news | last1=Shahla | first1=Arsalan | title=Drone Responsible for Iran Defense Ministry Blast: State TV | date=January 28, 2023 |newspaper=Bloomberg News | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-28/blast-hits-iran-defense-ministry-s-ammunition-depot-state-tv |access-date= January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230128235953/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-28/blast-hits-iran-defense-ministry-s-ammunition-depot-state-tv |archive-date= 2023-01-28 |url-status=live }}
{{cite news | title=Explosions, Fires At Iran Military Site And Factories | date=January 28, 2023 |newspaper=Iran International | url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202301282372 |access-date= January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230129015043/https://www.iranintl.com/en/202301282372 |archive-date= 2023-01-29 |url-status=live }}
}}
{{Iran–Israel proxy conflict}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iran drone attacks, 2023}}
Category:Ammunition depot bombings
Category:2023 building bombings
Category:Building bombings in Iran
Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict
Category:Drone strikes in Iran
Category:Events affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Category:History of Isfahan province
Category:Drone strikes conducted by Israel