Israel Hits Back at Iran With Limited Drone Strike on Air Base

Oil reverses gains after Iran, West play down extent of attack
US urged Israel not to react aggressively to weekend assault

Worshippers chant slogans during an anti-Israeli gathering after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, on April 19.Photographer: Vahid Salemi/AP Photo

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By Patrick Sykes, Arsalan Shahla, Donato Paolo Mancini, and Courtney McBride

April 19, 2024 at 9:47 AM UTC

Updated on

April 19, 2024 at 12:50 PM UTC

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Israel reportedly struck back at Iran on Friday morning, hitting a military site in a drone operation that was limited in scale and seemed to cause little damage.

Iranian state media confirmed an attack had taken place in the city of Isfahan and said it failed. The country’s officials — who were bracing for Israel to respond to Saturday’s unprecedented drone and missile assault by the Islamic Republic — signaled they weren’t inclined to launch a counterstrike.