Israel Strikes Site Inside Iran, US Officials Confirm Amid Reports Of Explosions Near Isfahan

New Delhi: Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after three explosions were heard near the Shekari army airbase near Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Three drones “have been successfully shot down by the country’s air defence, there are no reports of a missile attack for now,” Iran’s National Cyberspace Center spokesman, Hossein Dalirian, said on X.

Iranian state TV reported that ‘loud sound’ was heard in the Isfahan province as multiple flights over the Iranian airspace were diverted amid tensions with Israel. Explosions were also reported in the al-Imam area of Babel.

Isafahan is considered a strategically important city and is home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear programme, including its underground Natanz enrichment site. “Nuclear facilities in Isfahan province are completely secure,” the Tasnim news agency said, citing ‘credible sources.’

ABC and CBS News, quoting US officials, reported the strikes were carried out by Israel. Tel Aviv had previously warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend in response to an attack at the Iranian embassy in Syria.

Washington also said it had advance warning of Israel’s retaliation against Iran but “didn’t endorse” it.

According to CNN, Israel warned the Biden administration earlier on Thursday that the strike was coming in the next 24 to 48 hours but assured that Iran’s nuclear facilities would not be targeted.

The Israeli military told AFP: “We don’t have a comment at this time.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) urged its citizens in Israel to “depart if it’s safe to do so.”