US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has declined to confirm reports of an Israeli attack on Iran, stating that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations and is committed to de-escalating tensions in the region. The statement came during a news conference that concluded the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting on the Italian island of Capri. Blinken would not directly confirm the Israeli strike, referring to it as a ‘reported event’. He also did not comment on whether the US had been notified in advance of the attack.

Shortly before Blinken’s remarks, Italy’s foreign minister confirmed that the US had been informed at the last minute about the Israeli strike. However, he clarified that there was no involvement from the United States, describing the information provided as a notification. The foreign minister also credited the collective efforts of the G7 for the relatively small scale of the event.

A senior US official revealed that Israel had notified the US through multiple channels shortly before the attack. While Israel had given a prior alert before striking the Iranian embassy complex in Damascus on April 1, the official stated that the latest attack was expected due to the warnings issued by Israel throughout the week. The official added that the Biden administration had chosen to remain tight-lipped about the strike to prevent the United States from being drawn into the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Israel did not officially comment on the drone attacks on the Iranian city of Isfahan that took place on Friday. There was no indication of whether further action was planned. Apart from direct strikes, Israel possesses alternative methods of attack, including cyberattacks and targeting Iranian proxies in other regions.

Iranian news reports on the incident made no mention of Israel, with state television portraying analysts and pundits who appeared dismissive of the event’s significance. According to Iranian state TV, three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan and were subsequently destroyed by the air defense system. Following the incident, Iran reopened its airports and airspace that had been temporarily closed during the strikes.

Israeli media refrained from quoting Israeli officials directly and instead referenced foreign media reports that confirmed Israel’s involvement. Some individuals within Israel speculated that the purpose of the attack was to demonstrate the capability to strike without causing harm.

The ongoing violence between Israel and Iranian proxies in the West Asia region has escalated over the past six months amid the bloodshed in Gaza. Concerns have risen that this shadow war between long-time adversaries could escalate into a direct conflict.