Israel carried out limited strikes in Iran early Friday as retaliation for Tehran’s missile and drone attack on Israel. Explosions were reported in Isfahan province, where Natanz, one of Iran’s nuclear facilities, is located. The strike was described as “limited” by a well-placed military source, and the U.S. was not involved, with pre-notification given to American officials. The Pentagon has not confirmed the strike, and the White House and National Security Council have declined to comment. Commercial flights began diverting over western Iran without explanation, with reports of explosions heard in Isfahan. Emirates and FlyDubai diverted flights, and Iran grounded commercial flights in Tehran, as well as in western and central regions.
The attack on Israel by Iran over the weekend was in retaliation for a deadly strike on Iran’s consulate earlier in the month, which resulted in the death of a top general and twelve others. This attack marks a significant escalation in violence between the two nations, as Iran has historically relied on proxy forces in other regions to target Israel, rather than directly engaging in hostilities itself. The situation remains ongoing and continues to develop, with the Associated Press contributing to the reporting of the events. Iranian state television acknowledged a “loud noise” near Isfahan, where the reported explosions occurred, but did not provide further details at that time. Isfahan is home to both a major Iranian airbase and facilities associated with the country’s nuclear program.
The strikes by Israel on Iran were carried out early Friday in response to the missile and drone attack by Tehran on Israel that occurred late Saturday. The explosions in Isfahan were reported near Natanz, a key nuclear facility in Iran, with state television claiming all sites in the area were “fully safe.” While the U.S. was not involved in the Israeli strikes, there was pre-notification given to American officials. The Pentagon has not confirmed the strikes, and both the White House and the National Security Council have opted not to comment on the situation. Commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran following the reported explosions in Isfahan, with carriers including Emirates and FlyDubai diverting flights.
The escalating violence between Iran and Israel has seen a significant development with Iran’s direct attack on Israel over the weekend. This marked the first time Iran had directly targeted Israel, as historically, Iran has used proxy forces in other countries for such purposes. The deadly strike on Iran’s consulate earlier in the month was the catalyst for the recent hostilities between the two nations, resulting in a retaliatory attack by Iran. The situation remains fluid and continues to evolve, with the reported explosions in Isfahan prompting commercial flights to divert their routes, and Iran announcing the grounding of commercial flights in Tehran and other regions. Iranian state television acknowledged the “loud noise” near Isfahan without providing immediate details.
The strikes by Israel on Iran were carried out in response to Tehran’s attack on Israel, marking a significant escalation of violence between the two nations. The explosions reported in Isfahan raised concerns about the safety of the area, particularly as Natanz, a critical nuclear facility, is located in the province. Despite the lack of confirmation from the Pentagon, reports indicate that the strike by Israel was “limited” in nature and did not involve the U.S. military. Commercial flights diverted their routes over western Iran following the reported explosions, with Emirates and FlyDubai adjusting their flight paths without providing detailed explanations. The ongoing situation in the region is being closely monitored due to the potential implications for regional stability and security.
