US secretary of state condemns airstrike in Iran; discussion ‘leans more towards infiltration than attack’ says anonymous Iranian officialIsrael has mounted strikes on Iran, US says, as Tehran plays down attackWhat we know so far about Israel’s strike on IranWhat’s in Isfahan? The city home to Iranian nuclear facilitiesIt’s 7:24am in Tehran and 6:54 In Tel Aviv. Let’s get a reminder of what we know so far:US officials have confirmed that Israel has carried out military operations against Iran but did not describe those operations.The Israeli military has told news agencies including Agence France-Presse and Associated Press: “We don’t have a comment at this time.”Iran’s state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan FridayAir defence systems over several Iranian cities were activated, state media reported, after the country’s official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the city of Isfahan.Iran’s Fars news agency reported “three explosions” were heard near the Shekari army airbase in the north-west of Isfahan province, while Iran’s space agency spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said “several” drones had been “successfully shot down”.Nuclear facilities in Isfahan were reported to be “completely secure”, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported, citing “reliable sources”.Flights were suspended across swathes of Iran on Friday. “Iran’s air defence has been activated in the skies of several provinces of the country,” Tehran’s official IRNA news agency said.Mehr news agency reported that “flights to Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, and airports in the west, northwest and southwest have been suspended.”Flight-tracking software showed commercial flights avoiding western Iran, including Isfahan, and skirting Tehran to the north and east.There was no immediate comment from Dubai’s Emirates airline, which was operating several of the planes.Blasts were also reported in southern Syria, according to a local activist group. “There were strikes on a Syrian army radar position,” said Rayan Maarouf, who runs the Suwayda24 anti-government website that covers news from Sweida province in the south, reports AFP.Oil prices surged more than three per cent in early Asian trade on Friday after the reports of explosions. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/apr/19/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-iran-israel-today-explosions-isfahan
Author : Gloria Oladipo (now); Vivian Ho, Amy Sedghi and Reged Ahmad (earlier)
Publish date : 2024-04-19 16:45:13
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Middle East crisis live: Blinken calls for calm as Iran official says no plan for immediate retaliation to reported Israeli missile strike
