19-4-2024 (TEHRAN) An Israeli missile strike reportedly targeted a site in Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, as per ABC News. The strike occurred shortly after local sources detected explosions in various regions, including Isfahan in central Iran, the As-Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria, and areas around Baghdad and Babil Governorate in Iraq.
Videos captured from Isfahan suggested that Iranian air defenses were activated over the area. The Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency stated that an explosion was heard in Qahjavarestan, situated east of Isfahan and near the Isfahan International Airport. Fars emphasized that the cause of the explosion remained unknown at that time.
Additionally, Fars and other Iranian news agencies reported the activation of air defenses near Isfahan, seemingly in response to small drones. Furthermore, Iranian air defenses were reportedly activated in Tabriz, located in northwestern Iran, after a suspicious object was sighted in the air.
According to Bloomberg News, Israeli officials had notified the US on Thursday of their intention to launch a strike within the next 24 to 48 hours. Reports also emerged regarding strikes on sites affiliated with the Syrian army. Syrian sources on Friday morning suggested that airstrikes had targeted sites belonging to the Syrian Army in the As-Suwayda and Daraa Governorates of southern Syria. As-Suwayda24, a local news site, indicated that the airstrikes targeted radar sites belonging to the Syrian military between Qarda and Izraa in Daraa.
Residents in Erbil and Mosul, Iraq, reported hearing the sounds of fighter jets early on Friday morning. Flight trackers indicated that several flights bound for Iran had altered their routes, with some Emirati flights included in the diversion. The Iranian Mehr News Agency reported the suspension of flights to Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz as of Friday morning.
Shortly after reports of the alleged Israeli missile strikes surfaced, Florida Senator Marco Rubio posted on X, stating, “Israel has the ability to conduct strikes against targets inside Iran without entering Iranian airspace from aircraft over Syrian and Iraqi airspace.” Israeli media highlighted the presence of several senior Israeli officials at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Friday morning.
These developments occurred amidst Israel’s vow to retaliate against a drone and missile attack attributed to Iran on Saturday night against Israel. The Iranian attack was purportedly in response to an alleged Israeli airstrike targeting a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus, resulting in the death of Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior IRGC commander overseeing Iran’s operations in Syria and Lebanon.
In recent days, Iranian officials had issued warnings that any Israeli strike on Iran would prompt a strong and swift response.
