Iran’s state media reported on Friday that explosions were heard in the central province of Isfahan, while US media quoted officials as confirming that Israel had launched retaliatory strikes on its arch-enemy.
Air defense systems over several Iranian cities were activated, state media reported, after the country’s official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the city of Isfahan.
Israel had earlier warned that it would strike back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend. Most of them were intercepted.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported “three explosions” were heard near the Shekari army airbase in northwestern Isfahan province, while Iran’s space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian said several drones were “successfully shot down.”
“There are currently no reports of a missile attack,” Dalirian said on the social media platform X. Nuclear facilities in Isfahan were reported to be “completely safe”.
ABC and CBS News reported the attacks were carried out by Israel, citing US officials. However, there was no immediate comment from the White House or Pentagon.
The Israeli army told AFP it did not want to comment at this stage.
Iran launched its first direct attack on Israel over the weekend. Israel, backed by its allies, intercepted most of the 300 missiles and drones launched by Iran and suffered no casualties.
Iran’s attack was in retaliation for an April 1 attack on its consulate in Damascus, which was blamed on Israel.
Iran is an important supporter of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
There have been fears of greater conflict in the Middle East since Iran’s attack on Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that Israel “reserves the right to defend itself” against Iran.
The US, Israel’s main ally and military supplier, has made it clear that it will not be part of a retaliatory attack on Iran, but has imposed sanctions on people and entities involved in the production of the drones used in Iran’s attack. deployed on Israel.
“We hold Iran accountable,” Pres. Joe Biden said Thursday, announcing the measures after the European Union also said it would impose punitive measures against Iran over its drone program.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, on Thursday painted a dark picture of the situation in the Middle East and warned that increasing tensions over the war in Gaza and Iran’s attack on Israel could turn into a “full-scale regional conflict”.
