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Middle East latest: Iran fires air defences after reports of explosions, state media says
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency has said air defence batteries have been fired in several provinces. Iranian state TV described a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without elaborating.
Friday 19 April 2024 04:16, UK
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Iran fires air defence systems, state news agency reports View post
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14m ago
23:08
‘Strike on Iran’ sends three messages
More from our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall:
“It could be this is a single strike on a deliberate target to therefore send three messages: Firstly to restore that deterrence – you hit us, you broke a red line by hitting us inside Israel – we’re going to hit you back.
“Secondly, if it is a single strike on the manufacturing plant, it would also send a message that it’s a carefully calibrated thought-out response: it’s not just an assault on Iran.
“And thirdly, it sends a message to the Iranian leadership that we can hit you deep inside Iran, we can fly our aircraft close to or within your airspace undetected, and can therefore do a lot worse if we’re pushed to do so.”
Bunkall adds there are also some reports of explosions in Syria and Iraq.
He says it’s possible it could be Israelis taking out pro-Iran militia targets, but is more likely to be their jets breaking the sound barrier.
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16m ago
23:06
Israel carried out an operation in Iran tonight, source tells NBC News
Israel carried out an operation in Iran tonight, a person familiar with the matter tells Sky News’s US partner network NBC News.
They added separately that Israeli officials notified US officials today that a response was coming.
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52m ago
22:30
Iran fires air defences, state news agency says
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency is saying air defence batteries have been fired in several provinces – supporting the Reuters report in our previous post.
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1h ago
22:15
Iran suspends flights over several cities – state media
Iran has suspended flights over several cities, including the capital Tehran, its state media has said.
It comes after Iran’s Fars news agency said explosions were heard near the airport at the country’s central Isfahan city.
“The cause of these sounds is still unknown, and investigations continue until the exact details of the incident are determined,” the semi-official Fars news agency said.
The explosions were reported near Isfahan airport
The explosions were reported near Isfahan airport
Iranian state TV described a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without elaborating.
It remains unclear if Iran is under an ongoing attack.
Reuters news agency said it was told by an Iranian source that air defence systems had been activated.
Sky’s Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said it’s “early days” but there are reports Israel may have launched a single, targeted strike on the manufacturing base in Isfahan where the drones used to attack Israel were likely made.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel during last weekend’s unprecedented attack, according to Israel Defense Forces.
Iran said it was retaliating for an attack on one of its consular buildings in Syria.
