Israel strikes Iran: U.S.

Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan

Israel has reportedly launched a retaliatory missile strike against Iran.

A senior U.S. official told ABC News that the missiles were in retaliation for an attack from Iran last Saturday when the country sent 300 unmanned drones and missiles toward targets all over Israel.

ABC News reported all but a few of the attacks were blocked by Israel and its allies.

Commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation early Friday as one semi-official news agency in the Islamic Republic reported “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan.

State TV reported a “loud noise.” Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near Isfahan, the staterun IRNA news agency reported.

IRNA said the defences fired across several provinces.

It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.

The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and Flydubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time.

They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

The semi-official Fars news agency reported on explosions being heard over Isfahan near its international airport.

It offered no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.

Iranian state TV began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.

The Israeli military didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.