Iran's state media reported explosions in the central province of Isfahan on Friday, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country. Here's what we know so far.
Iran said it fired air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones early on Friday morning.
No Iranian official directly acknowledged an Israeli attack, and the Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said: “The Zionist regime’s media supporters, in a desperate effort, tried to make victory out of their defeat, but the downed mini-drones have not caused any damage or casualties”.
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Iran says drones shot down
Iranian state media said air defence batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air.
The Fars news agency reported "three explosions" were heard near Qahjavarestan, near Isfahan airport and the 8th Shekari army airbase, while Iran's space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian said "several" drones had been "successfully shot down".
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Dalirian said on social media platform X there were "no reports of a missile attack".
"Reports indicate there was no major damage or large explosions caused by the impact of any air threat," the official IRNA news agency said.
Several Iranian media and officials referred to the incident as an attack by "infiltrators", rather than by Israel, suggesting there were no plans to retaliate.
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US media report Israeli strikes
US media quoted unnamed officials in Washington as saying Israel had carried out retaliatory strikes on its arch-rival.
NBC and CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, said Israel had provided Washington with advance notice of the strike.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to comment on the matter, though he stressed the US was not involved in any “offensive operations” in Iran.
Earlier, Italy's foreign minister said the US had told G7 ministers gathered in Italy that it received "last minute" information from Israel about a drone attack in Iran.
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Hardline minister breaks Israeli silence
While there was no official word from the Israeli authorities, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir came under fire for implying in a social media post that Israel was behind the Iran blasts.
Ben Gvir, a hardliner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition, wrote "Scarecrow!" on X, meaning "feeble" in Hebrew slang, appearing to suggest Israel was behind the blasts but its action was weak.
His comment swiftly sparked reactions on social media and television channels.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X: "In an unforgivable tweet of one word, Ben Gvir managed to sneer and shame Israel from Tehran to Washington."
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Nuclear facilities 'unharmed'
Iran’s state television said nuclear facilities where Iran has been conducting work – which Tehran says is peaceful but which the West believes is aimed at building a weapon – were unharmed following Friday's blasts.
The Natanz nuclear site, the centerpiece of Iran’s uranium enrichment program, is in Isfahan province.
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said “there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” after the reported blasts.
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Flights briefly suspended
Flights were suspended across swathes of Iran on Friday, with the UAE-based flydubai airline cancelling flights to the country, but Tehran's two major airports later resumed service.
Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.
The explosions in Iran coincided with the 85th birthday of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Syria strike
Israeli strikes also hit a military position in Syria's south, the state-run news agency Sana reported, quoting a Syrian military statement.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the dawn strikes "targeted a radar installation of the Syrian army" between the provinces of Sweida and Daraa.
Israel has been blamed for a spate of recent attacks in Syria, including an April 1 strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, in which seven of Iran's Revolutionary Guards including two generals were killed.
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April 13 attack on Israel
Israeli authorities had vowed to respond to Iran's unprecedent April 13 drone and missile attack on Israel, Tehran's first attack to directly target its regional foe.
Read moreHow Israel could respond to Iran’s drone and missile assault
Israel, backed by its allies, intercepted most of the 300 missiles and drones launched by Iran, and suffered no deaths.
Iran said it launched its attack in retaliation for the April 1 strike on its consulate in Syria.
After its missile and drone barrage against Israel, Iran had declared the matter concluded. But Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had warned that Tehran would make Israel "regret" any new attack on the Islamic republic.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP, AP)
