Iran has activated air defense systems following reports of explosions near a key airbase in Isfahan province, state media disclosed. This development unfolds amidst escalating tensions in the region after Iran’s retaliatory strike on Israel, triggered by an attack on its consulate in Syria.
Private American news channel, citing a senior US official, reported Israel’s purported missile attack on a site in Iran. However, neither Israel nor Iran has commented on the alleged incident.
Flight operations in several Iranian cities were momentarily halted, with additional reports of explosions emerging from Syria and Iraq.
It’s uncertain if Iran was under attack, as no Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility. Israel’s military didn’t respond to inquiries either. However, tensions remained high since the Saturday assault on Israel amid its war on Hamas in Gaza and its strikes targeting Iran in Syria.
An Iranian government official and later Iran’s state-run television suggested drone strikes might have targeted sites. IRNA reported defense batteries activated across several provinces without detailing the reason, though people reported hearing sounds.
IRNA mentioned air defenses firing at a major air base in Isfahan, which has housed Iran’s American-made F-14 Tomcats. The Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported blasts without a cause. State TV acknowledged “loud noise” in the area.
Isfahan is linked to Iran’s nuclear program, including the Natanz enrichment site often targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage. However, state TV described all sites as “fully safe.”
Dubai-based airlines diverted flights around western Iran early morning, offering no explanation. Iran later grounded commercial flights in Tehran and surrounding regions. Customers were informed of the incident at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Iranian state TV announced a “loud noise” near Isfahan without elaborating. A spokesman for Iran’s civilian space program mentioned several small drones being shot down. Residents of Baghdad, where Iranian-backed militias are based, reported hearing explosions, but the source wasn’t immediately clear.
