Tehran reported three explosions near a military base. An Iranian agency, however, indicated that there was “no information indicating an attack from abroad”. So far, the Israeli army has not officially commented.
Several explosions were reported early Friday, April 19, in central Iran, with senior U.S. officials reporting an Israeli attack in retaliation for unprecedented drone and missile strikes against Israel last weekend. However, the Iranian Tasnim agency simultaneously indicated, citing “knowledgeable sources”that there was “no reports of an attack from abroad.”
What happened ?
Tehran reported three explosions near a military base in Qahjavarestan, a town located between Isfahan and its airport, in the center of the country, according to the official Fars agency. Drones were shot down but there was no missile attack “so far”indicated the Iranian authorities.
The nuclear facilities based in the Isfahan region are “totally safe”, specified the Tasnim agency. According to American officials to CNN, the target of the strikes was not nuclear. According to the Fars agency, however, a military radar was a possible target. Ghahjaworstan, where an explosion was heard, is “the eighth fighter base of the Air Force”reported FARS.
What is the damage?
Iran has activated its air defense in several provinces but “no large-scale damage or explosions were reported”, indicated the official Irna agency, based on information reported by its journalists. Nuclear facilities based in the Isfahan region of central Iran are “totally safe”the Iranian Tasnim agency has since indicated. “Reports published in some foreign media about an incident at these facilities are incorrect”added the agency, citing “sources of trust”.
Air connections resumed early Friday morning at Tehran’s two airports after being suspended, according to the official Irna agency. Planes could again land and take off from Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports, IRNA said, indicating that a flight from Rome, which had been diverted to Ankara, was expected in Tehran.
In what context ?
These new developments come as Israel threatened to respond to the attack on its territory last weekend launched by Tehran after a deadly strike attributed to Israel against its consulate in Damascus, Syria. Israel said it had intercepted with its allies almost all of the approximately 350 drones and missiles launched by Iran, and affirmed that the Iranian attack would not remain “unpunished”.
It was the first direct attack ever carried out by Iran against its archenemy. The head of Iranian diplomacy Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that Iran would “to regret” to Israel any attack against its territory. But in attacking Israel, Iran said it was acting in “self-defense” after the attack which destroyed its consulate in Damascus on April 1 and cost the lives of seven of its soldiers, including two high-ranking officers. Tehran accused Israel, which neither confirmed nor denied. “Iran’s self-defense actions and countermeasures are over, so the Israeli terrorist regime must stop any further military adventurism against our interests”Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a meeting on the situation in the Middle East.
Read also“Iran will not get away with this”: Israel prepares to retaliate against Tehran’s aggression
What are the Iranians saying?
If Tehran reported three explosions, resulting from the interception of drones, the Iranian Tasnim agency simultaneously indicated, citing “knowledgeable sources”that there was “no reports of an attack from abroad”after explosions heard in the country. “Contrary to rumors and claims made by Israeli media”he “There is no report of an attack from abroad on the central city of Isfahan or any other part of the country”the agency said, while no Iranian leader has publicly commented on these explosions.
What are the Israelis saying?
The Israeli army told AFP that it had no comment. “For now” regarding these explosions reported early Friday. The military said alarm sirens had sounded in northern Israel, the scene of exchanges of fire in recent months between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, supported by Iran.
What are the Americans saying?
According to American officials cited by several American television stations including the ABC News channel, these explosions are linked to an Israeli attack against Iran in retaliation for Iranian strikes against Israel last weekend. Washington was warned Thursday of the Israeli attack on Iran but neither approved the operation nor played any role in its execution, officials were quoted by American channels NBC and CNN as saying.
