Israel likely behind drone attack on Iran: US official claims

Dubai: After Iran claimed to have intercepted drones attacking the nation’s military industry target, a US official said Israel was likely to be behind the attack.

A footage released by the Iranian media showed a flash in the sky and emergency vehicles on the ground, Reuters reported.

The extent of damage the drone attack caused requires to be independently ascertained, according to the report.

Israel has long been willing to attack Iranian targets in the event of diplomacy fails to stop Iran’s nuclear programmes.

The Wall Street Journal earlier linked Israel to the attack, citing several ‘unidentified’ sources.

Meanwhile, several US officials refused to comment on the attack other than saying that US had no role in it.

The attacks comes amid tension between Iran and the West boiling over Iran’s supply of long-range ‘suicide drones’ for Russia to use in Ukraine.

Iran admitted sending drones to Russia and claimed that they were sent before Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Moscow denies its forces use Iranian drones in Ukraine, although many have been shot down and recovered there.

While Iran’s Defense Minister said there was only a minor damage from the attack but the extent of the damage remains unconfirmed.

More important, the attack comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office last month leading the ultra-right wing government in Israel.

Reports say that one drone that came to attack the target was shot down while the others were caught in defense trap.

Meanwhile, military official in the region said, deducing from the location of the strike and sizes of the drones, that the attack may have been staged from within Iranian borders.