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Iran-Israel live updates: Israel reportedly targets Iran with missiles
Israeli missiles struck a site in Iran, ABC News reports, citing a US official, and Iran’s Fars News Agency reports explosions at central Isfahan airport.
Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear programme. / Photo: TRT World
TRT WORLD
Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear programme. / Photo: TRT World
Thursday, April 19, 2024
0040 GMT — Israeli missiles have hit a site in Iran, ABC News reported, citing a US official.
Iran’s Fars news agency also said explosions were heard in central Isfahan airport, but the reason was unknown .
“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. Commercial flights began diverting their routes early on Friday morning over western Iran, AP news agency reported.
Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles in a retaliatory strike after a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria.
Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear programme. Iran’s government offered no immediate comment. Isfahan is some 350 kilometres south of Iran’s capital, Tehran.
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2240 GMT — US, UK unveil sweeping sanctions on Iran’s drone programme
The US and Britain has announced widespread sanctions against Iran’s military drone programme, in response to its weekend attack against Israel.
“Today, we are holding Iran accountable — imposing new sanctions and export controls,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.
“The Iranian regime’s attack against Israel was a reckless act and a dangerous escalation,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, adding that the UK had sanctioned the “ringleaders of the Iranian military and forces responsible for the weekend’s attack.”
Tehran launched its first-ever direct military attack on Israel late Saturday in retaliation for an April 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus by Israel that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals.
2123 GMT — US and Israel discuss Iran and Middle East
Delegations from the US and Israel have held a virtual meeting to discuss soaring tensions between Tel Aviv and Iran as well as Israel’s vowed military action on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
The bulk of the White House’s readout of the call on Thursday focused on Iran, just hours after a spokesperson said the teams would largely discuss Rafah.
The official White House readout of the meeting said it began “in a small group format to discuss the Iran attack and the collective efforts to further enhance Israel’s defense through advanced capabilities as well as cooperation with a broad coalition of military partners.”
Meanwhile, Pentagon Chief Austin also spoke with Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant on Thursday to discuss regional threats and Iran’s actions in the Middle East.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD AND AGENCIES
