Israel attacked Iran, according to three persons familiar with the situation. Early Friday, Iranian state television reported that its troops had destroyed drones. This comes days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
According to one account, the United States was not involved, but Israel notified it before the strike.
According to Iran’s Fars news agency, three explosions were heard near an army post in the central city of Isfahan. An Iranian official informed Reuters that there was no missile attack. Instead, the explosions were caused by Iran’s air defense systems being activated.
Iranian state television reported that shortly after midnight, “three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan.” The air defense system activated and killed the drones in the sky.”
The broadcaster later stated that the situation in Isfahan was normal, with no ground explosions.
The Israeli military made no comments on the reports.
Israel had threatened to retaliate for Iran’s weekend onslaught, which included hundreds of drones and missiles, in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria. The majority of the Iranian drones and missiles were shot down before they reached Israeli land.
Analysts and spectators have expressed alarm about the possibility of the Israel-Gaza conflict extending to the rest of the region.
Before Friday’s bombing, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel that Tehran would respond with a “severe response” to any attack on its land.
On Thursday, Iran urged the United Nations Security Council to compel Israel to halt any further military adventurism against their interests. Meanwhile, the UN secretary-general warned that the Middle East was in a “moment of maximum peril.”
Asian stocks and bond rates fell on Friday, while safe-haven currencies such as gold and crude oil rose. Brent crude futures surged 2% to $88.86 a barrel as the dollar gained ground. Gold rose 1%, while S&P 500 futures fell 1%.
Iran’s state media reported that nuclear facilities, where Tehran claims benign activities are conducted but the West suspects weapon development, remained unhurt. However, the West suspects Iran’s activities are aimed at weapon development.
The Natanz nuclear site, the focal point of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, is located in Isfahan province.
Airports in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan were closed until 0700 GMT, with the possibility of an extension, and planes from Iran’s western half had been cleared, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.
Some Turkish Airlines and Emirates flights bound for Tehran were returning to their original destinations, FlightRadar24 said on X. According to reports, an Iran Air flight from Rome to Tehran was diverting to Ankara, Turkey.
According to FlightRadar24, Emirates, flydubai, Turkish Air, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and Belavia were among the carriers that continued to operate in Iran’s airspace on Friday morning.
After the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, according to Israeli estimates, Israel launched its offensive on Gaza. According to the local health ministry, approximately 33,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza as a result of Israel’s military onslaught.
Organizations with Iranian backing have said they support the Palestinians and are attacking from Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.
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