Israel targets Iran's S-300 air defence system in recent strikes: reports

Tel Aviv: Recent drone and missile strikes hit Iran's Isfahan province, targeting a region that houses both Iran's nuclear facility and air defence systems.

While American news agencies claim Israel executed these attacks, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

These strikes came shortly after Iran launched a series of drone, cruise, and ballistic missile attacks on Israel, escalating tensions between the two regional adversaries.

Satellite images analyzed by The New York Times and the BBC reveal a battery of the Russian-made S-300 Surface-Air anti-ballistic missile defence system positioned northeast of Isafan International Airport. According to the BBC's analysis, the images from April 15 show the S-300 system at the secret facility.

However, the most recent Google Earth images indicate its absence. The Natanz nuclear facility is situated north of the targeted area.

The S-300 defence system is comprised of various vehicles equipped with radar, missile launchers, and other equipment. The BBC's analysis suggests that Israeli weapons managed to penetrate this Iranian air defence system undetected and hit a region equipped with an anti-ballistic missile defence system.

Iranian officials stated that their military did not detect any intrusion into its airspace on the day of the attack, as reported by The New York Times.

This assessment is supported by Iran's state media agency, IRNA, which claimed no missile attacks occurred and that Iran's air defence system remained inactive. Satellite imagery from both the BBC and The New York Times shows damage to the targeted facility.

While the radar of the S-300 defence system appears damaged, the missile launchers remain intact. Farzin Nadimi, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute, commented to Iran International, a critical news agency, saying, "The image shows clearly that the system's engagement radar, which guides the surface-to-air missiles, has been destroyed."

The full extent of the damage remains uncertain, and the specific weapons reportedly used by Israel are yet to be confirmed. Western officials quoted by The New York Times suggest that Israel's strike aimed to send a message to Iran about bypassing its defence systems undetected. They added that neither the missile nor the aircraft entered Jordanian airspace.

Russia delivered the S-300 air defence system to Iran in 2016, following extensive negotiations. This delivery raised concerns within Israel about the formidable air defence capabilities of the system. Notably, in 2010, Russia had cancelled a previous deal to supply Iran with the S-300 due to pressure from Western nations.