Iran activates its air defence batteries amidst the reports of explosions near the country’s major airbase in Isfahan province, as reported by state media. Regional tensions escalates after Tehran’s retaliatory attack on Israel after the latter attacked the former’s consulate in Syria. The situation in the region is reported to be “fragile and tense”. As per Reuters news agency, the reason of the explosion is still unknown. It is widely speculated that Isfahan explosion is an attack from Israel.
According to US broadcaster ABC News, Israel launched missile attack against a site in Iran, and cited a senior US official regarding the matter. However, both Iran and Israel did not comment on the alleged attack.
Tehran suspends flights in several areas including Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz airport, as reported by Iranian Airport and Navigation Company. Later, the Tasnim news agency, which is believed to be affiliated to the Revolutionary Guard, reported that the civil aviation authority of the country announced the lifting of flight restrictions in most of the airports. Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, Iran’s space agency spokesperson was heard as saying that “a number of small drones” had been brought down. However, he did not elaborate further.
The situation is believed to highly volatile. As per Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, a series of explosions were heard from Syria military sites. Iraq also reported about explosions near al-Imam area of Babel. According to IRNA, explosions were heard from Adra and al-Thala military airport and a radar battalion located between the city of Adra and the village of Qarfa in southern Syria.
After the unconfirmed Israeli attack on Iran, Israeli military said that alert sirens have been activated in nortehrn Israel. The military later said that the warning sirens were “false alarm”, said Al Jazeera.
It is to note that the military base in the Isfahan province belongs to Iran’s army and not the Revolutionary Guards, who are in direct conflict with Tehran. As per state media, three small unknown flying objects were intercepted near the Isfahan province around 4 am local time.