An Iranian army infantry drill in Isfahan province, Iran. AP
An Iranian army infantry drill in Isfahan province, Iran. AP
An Iranian army infantry drill in Isfahan province, Iran. AP
An Iranian army infantry drill in Isfahan province, Iran. AP

Iran foils drone attack on defence ministry complex in Isfahan


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Iran foiled a drone attack on a Ministry of Defence complex in the city of Isfahan overnight, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Wednesday.

“The Ministry of Defence’s Amir Al Momenin complex in Isfahan was the target of the attack by a small drone, which was foiled by defence systems,” Tasnim said.

It said the attempt did not cause any damage.

Isfahan's deputy governor Mohammedreza Janashari later said there was "no security incident" in comments carried by state outlet Irna.

The military and police "are ready to deal with any threat, as always", he added.

The incident comes three days after the Iranian navy said it warned off a US reconnaissance plane near the Gulf of Oman.

"After the warning, the plane was prevented from entering the country's skies without authorisation," Tasnim said, identifying the plane as a US Navy EP-3E.

While the report said the aircraft had crossed into Iranian airspace, it also said that the plane had not entered Iranian skies and had left after the warning.

In late January, Iran blamed Israel for a drone attack in Isfahan that damaged a weapons depot. That attack targeted a defence ministry "workshop complex" in Isfahan, home to the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant.

It said the attack was carried out by a "foreign trained" Kurdish group based in neighbouring Iraq.

Isfahan, 350km south of Tehran, is home to both a large airbase built for Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 fighter jets and its Nuclear Fuel Research and Production Centre.

Tehran often accuses Israel of attacks in Iran and on Iran-linked weapons stores and facilities in Syria, as well as stoking unrest such as the nationwide protests that have rocked Iran since September.

It accused Israel of a 2022 drone attack on a military drone storage plant in the western city of Kermanshah.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also attacked what it called Israeli intelligence bases in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Israel has admitted launching strikes on Iran-linked sites in Syria and held joint military drills with the US to "send a message to Tehran".

IRGC Deputy Commander Sardar Naqdi hit out at Israel on Wednesday over suspected Israeli strikes that killed two IRGC members near Damascus last week.

Speaking at the funeral of Milad Heydari, the commander said Iran warned Israel to prepare for a "strong and decisive response".

Nick's journey in numbers

Countries so far: 85

Flights: 149

Steps: 3.78 million

Calories: 220,000

Floors climbed: 2,000

Donations: GPB37,300

Prostate checks: 5

Blisters: 15

Bumps on the head: 2

Dog bites: 1

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BOSH!'s pantry essentials

Nutritional yeast

This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.

Seeds

"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."

Umami flavours

"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".

Onions and garlic

"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."

Your grain of choice

Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."

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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere

Director: Scott Cooper

Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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How The Debt Panel's advice helped readers in 2019

December 11: 'My husband died, so what happens to the Dh240,000 he owes in the UAE?'

JL, a housewife from India, wrote to us about her husband, who died earlier this month. He left behind an outstanding loan of Dh240,000 and she was hoping to pay it off with an insurance policy he had taken out. She also wanted to recover some of her husband’s end-of-service liabilities to help support her and her son.

“I have no words to thank you for helping me out,” she wrote to The Debt Panel after receiving the panellists' comments. “The advice has given me an idea of the present status of the loan and how to take it up further. I will draft a letter and send it to the email ID on the bank’s website along with the death certificate. I hope and pray to find a way out of this.”

November 26:  ‘I owe Dh100,000 because my employer has not paid me for a year’

SL, a financial services employee from India, left the UAE in June after quitting his job because his employer had not paid him since November 2018. He owes Dh103,800 on four debts and was told by the panellists he may be able to use the insolvency law to solve his issue. 

SL thanked the panellists for their efforts. "Indeed, I have some clarity on the consequence of the case and the next steps to take regarding my situation," he says. "Hopefully, I will be able to provide a positive testimony soon."

October 15: 'I lost my job and left the UAE owing Dh71,000. Can I return?'

MS, an energy sector employee from South Africa, left the UAE in August after losing his Dh12,000 job. He was struggling to meet the repayments while securing a new position in the UAE and feared he would be detained if he returned. He has now secured a new job and will return to the Emirates this month.

“The insolvency law is indeed a relief to hear,” he says. "I will not apply for insolvency at this stage. I have been able to pay something towards my loan and credit card. As it stands, I only have a one-month deficit, which I will be able to recover by the end of December." 

Updated: April 05, 2023, 8:57 AM