On Friday morning, reports emerged of a series of explosions in Iran, Israel, Syria, and Iraq. The explosions were attributed to an airstrike conducted by long-distance aircraft and were confirmed to have targeted Iranian Air Force assets at Isfahan in central Iran.
The attack came just days after Iran launched a drone and missile strike against Israel, in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike that had killed a senior Iranian commander. The explosions were also reported to have targeted sites belonging to the Syrian Army in southern Syria. There were no reports of casualties.
The Jerusalem Post confirmed the reports of the Iranian airstrike on Friday morning, with two Israeli defense officials and three Iranian officials also confirming the Israeli involvement to The New York Times. A US official later told CNN that the Israeli target was not nuclear. The strike was reportedly planned in advance, with Israeli officials informing the US of their intentions just a day prior. The US was also informed in advance of the airstrike.
Local sources reported explosions in multiple locations, including Isfahan in central Iran, the As-Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria, and the Baghdad area and Babil Governorate in Iraq. Videos from Isfahan appeared to show Iranian air defenses being activated in response to small drones in the area.
The semi-official Fars News Agency reported an explosion in Qahjavarestan, east of Isfahan, with the cause being unknown at the time. Air defenses were also activated in Tabriz in northwestern Iran on Friday morning after a suspicious object was spotted in the air.
Flight trackers showed several flights headed for Iran diverting from their routes, and flights to Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz were suspended, according to Iranian media. Iranian officials had warned of a strong and quick response to any Israeli attack, following the alleged airstrike that killed a senior commander on Saturday. However, the Iranian target was confirmed to not be nuclear, easing fears of further escalation.
Residents in Erbil and Mosul in Iraq reported hearing the sounds of fighter jets on Friday morning, indicating possible Israeli involvement in the strikes. The Jerusalem Post also reported that several senior Israeli officials were present in a Tel Aviv military headquarters on Friday morning. The explosions came after Israel promised to respond to the Iranian attack on Saturday, during which they launched drones and missiles against Israel in retaliation for the alleged airstrike.
The Israeli response to the recent attacks has been met with concern from the US, as President Biden expressed during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A senior White House official told Axios that Biden made it clear that the US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran and will not support such operations. Biden also stressed the importance of the joint defensive efforts made by Israel, the US, and other countries in the region to prevent further attacks.
In response to the series of events, Biden announced that he would hold a call with G7 leaders on Sunday to coordinate a united diplomatic response to the situation. He also stated that his team will engage with counterparts across the region to remain vigilant and take necessary action to protect against threats.
While the explosions did not result in any known casualties, the situation remains tense, and further attacks cannot be ruled out. The international community will continue to monitor the situation closely in the coming days.
