ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian state TV reported in the early hours of Friday that “big explosions” were heard close to Isfahan, with flights over several cities, including the capital city of Tehran, being temporarily halted only to resume soon after following statements and media reports of micro-drones being shot down by the country’s air defense resulting in no damage.
Iranian state media IRNA reported early on Friday that the “flights to Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, airports in the west, northwest, and southwest have been suspended,” adding that “reports indicate that Iran's air defense has been activated in the skies of several provinces of the country,” following Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reporting on "big explosions" being heard near Isfahan.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affiliated Tasnim news agency reported that “no missile attack” had taken place “for now” in response to US media reports claiming that the reported explosions over the skies of Isfahan, a central Iranian city where several key Iranian nuclear sites are located, were the result of an Israeli missile strike, against the backdrop of the recent escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran.
Tasnim also reported that "there has been no air attack from outside the borders," adding that “reliable sources” claim that “Nuclear facilities in Isfahan province are completely secure.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced in a post on X that it "can confirm that there is no damage" to Iran's "nuclear sites," adding that IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi "continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely."
IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to #Iran’s nuclear sites. DG @rafaelmgrossi continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely. pic.twitter.com/4F7pAlNjWM
— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) April 19, 2024
Iran’s national space agency spokesperson Hossein Dalirian stated on X that “several micro-drones” had been shot down by the country’s air defense.
This comes against the backdrop of soaring tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv following Iran’s unprecedented direct attack against Israel in retaliation for the deadly strike on its embassy in Damascus on April 1, which the Islamic Republic blames Israel for.
Seven members of the IRGC, including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the Quds Force (IRGC-QF) head in Syria and Lebanon, were killed in the strike which hit the consular section of the Iranian embassy in Damascus. Since the attack, Iranian leaders and officials have repeatedly vowed to retaliate, ultimately doing so late on Saturday, when Iran launched over 300 projectiles, including drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, toward Israel in a massive direct aerial assault on the country.
Israeli Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff on Monday said Tel Aviv would respond to Tehran’s attack.
"This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs into the territory of the State of Israel will be met with a response," said Israel's army chief General Herzi Halevi addressing the troops at a military base that was targeted by a barrage of drones and missiles launched by Iran over the weekend.
"We will do whatever is necessary to protect the State of Israel, and we will do it at the opportunity and the time we will choose," said Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari in a separate statement.
Updated at 9:16 am