Following explosions in the province of Central Isfahan, which ABC News and Reuters claim were caused by Israeli missile attacks, Iran activates air defenses in all of its main cities.
Iran’s national broadcaster said that explosions were heard close to the capital city of Isfahan after what a senior US official informed ABC News were Israeli missile attacks. This prompted Iran to activate its air defense system across many cities, according to state media.
Mysterious explosions were reported early on Friday at the central Isfahan airport by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. “The cause of these sounds is still unknown, and investigations continue until the exact details of the incident are determined.”
Other Iranian news agencies said that there looks to be an impact on the 8th Shekhari Air Force Base. Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran has suspended international flights, according to the Mehr news agency.
When questioned about allegations of explosions and strikes in Iran and Syria, the Israeli military informed the AFP news agency, “we don’t have a comment at this time”. Separately, the military declared that sirens had been activated along the Israeli-Lebanese border in northern Israel.
According to the Reuters news agency, which cited its sources, Israel bombed Iran and Tel Aviv gave the US advance notice.
Iran’s civilian space program spokesperson, Hossein Dalirian, reported on the social networking site X that multiple small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. Where it occurred and whether it was related to the present incident in Iran were not immediately apparent.
Meanwhile, residents of Baghdad, in Iraq, the home base of several militias backed by Iran, reported hearing explosion sounds, though it was unclear whence the noise originated.
Isfahan is well-known for its sizable military airstrip and locations that are essential to Iran’s nuclear program. The Iranian administration has not yet responded formally.
Oil costs increase
Global markets are already being impacted by the incident, which is being keenly observed by the world community.
The price of oil saw a strong increase, with Brent crude gaining 3.44 percent to $90.11 and West Texas Intermediate rising 3.66 percent to $85.76. Fears of a further escalation in an already conflict-ridden region are blamed for this spike.
The continuing crisis between Iran and Israel has reportedly escalated significantly as a result of the claimed strikes, which come after Israel’s army head General Herzi Halevi threatened to respond forcefully to any action.
As regional and international forces struggle to address the increasingly worsening security environment in the Middle East, the situation is still unstable.
Iran killed seven Iranians, including two top army officers, in what was believed to be an Israeli raid on its embassy compound in Syria over the weekend. In response, Iran launched a huge counteroffensive using hundreds of drones and missiles.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
