Israel has launched an attack on Iran, with Iranian state media reporting in the early hours of Friday, the 19th of April, that three explosions were heard near Isfahan, with an Iranian official telling Reuters that they were caused by the launching of air defence systems, whilst Israel reportedly informed the US before the attack without directly involving the US in the process, reports Reuters.
The attack came days after Iran attacked Israel with 300 drones and missiles in retaliation for an alleged attack on its embassy in Damascus, as world powers urged Israel not to respond.
Iranian state television reported that shortly after midnight “three drones were spotted in the skies over Isfahan. The air defence system activated and destroyed the drones in the sky.”
The broadcaster later stated that the situation in Isfahan was normal and that there had been no explosions on the ground.
Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, where Iran is carrying out work that Tehran claims is peaceful but which the West believes is aimed at producing a weapon, is located in Isfahan province. Despite the reported explosions in Isfahan, Iranian state television confirmed that the nuclear site had not been damaged.
The Israeli leadership and military did not comment early on Friday.
Analysts and observers have expressed concern about the risk of the Israeli-Gaza war spreading to the rest of the region.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel before Friday’s strike that Tehran would give a “stern response” to any attack on its territory.
Iran told the UN Security Council on Thursday that Israel “must be forced to stop any further military adventurism against our interests”, as the UN Secretary-General warned that the Middle East was at “a moment of maximum danger”.
Several airports in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan were closed for a few hours, FlightRadar24 reported.
Some flights were diverted, and others returned to their home countries or were diverted to alternative airports. Airlines such as Emirates, flydubai, Turkish Air, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Belavia adjusted their flight routes to overfly the open parts of Iranian airspace.
Also read: US and EU plan new sanctions on Iran; Israeli war cabinet to meet again
Follow us on Facebook and X!