(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIAS) — Several days ago, Israel reportedly targeted Iran’s third-largest city, Isfahan, with a series of small quadcopter drone strikes in retaliation for Tehran’s earlier assault involving 300 ballistic missiles and suicide drones.
Recent reports also indicate that the Tel Aviv regime launched three guided missiles near the Iranian city, although confirmation of these attacks remains pending.
Isfahan, also known as “Nesf-e-Jahaan,” is centrally located in Iran near the Zagros Mountains.
A prevailing question among the international community is why Israel would specifically target Isfahan in its retaliatory strikes instead of other Iranian cities.
The strategic military importance of Isfahan, renowned for its drone and ballistic missile production, is a key factor in this focus.
According to Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a chemical weapons expert and former head of the UK and NATO’s nuclear forces to the BBC, targeting Isfahan is crucial due to the concentration of military bases in and around the area.
He said the reported missile strike was also “fairly near to where we believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons so perhaps a nod to that”.
Nearby Natanz, approximately 120 kilometers from Isfahan, hosts Iran’s primary nuclear facility, globally recognized for its uranium enrichment capabilities.
This site, reported to house 19,000 centrifuges, enables uranium enrichment to weapons-grade levels.
In addition to above-ground facilities, Iranian authorities have constructed underground uranium enrichment sites in Natanz, complicating efforts for potential aerial attacks.
Western intelligence only became aware of the uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz in 2002, leading to heightened scrutiny of the region.
In April 2021, Tehran blamed Israel for a sabotage attack on its Natanz plant, which caused a blackout and damaged centrifuges.
Following the recent Israeli attacks, Iranian authorities swiftly announced that their nuclear facilities in Isfahan had not suffered any damage, a claim later confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Moreover, in Zardanjan, south of Isfahan, uranium conversion activities take place at a site equipped with three Chinese-made reactors used for research and development by Iranian nuclear experts.
Called, the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, it is Iran’s largest nuclear research complex and employs approximately 3,000 scientists, according to the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative.
It was built with Chinese assistance and opened in 1984. It operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, the NTI says, adding that the facility is also the target of both U.S. and U.N. sanctions.
Meanwhile, adjacent to the international airport in Isfahan is the “Shekari” airbase, housing Iran’s fleet of F-14 Tomcat fighter jets.
Iran remains the only country still operating the F-14s, originally acquired during the pro-Western reign of the Shah of Iran, prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Despite claims by Israel of targeting the S-300 defense system stationed at the airbase with guided missiles, satellite images have shown no damage to the facility.
Iran acquired the S-300 air defense system from Russia in 2007, and Moscow is now offering the more advanced S-400 system to Tehran.
In the heart of Isfahan lies a critical defense manufacturing facility producing various weapons and drones, vital for the survival of the nation’s military forces.
Last year, this facility was reportedly targeted by drone strikes believed to be orchestrated by groups supported by Israel, although the attacks caused no significant damage.
Also located in Isfahan is the substantial “Shahid Vatanpour” army airbase. — DSA