RISING TENSIONS: Explosions Heard In Iran As Israel Launches Retaliatory Strikes

• The conflict between Iran and Israel appears to have no end in sight.

• Despite warnings by Iran to Israel not to respond to its retaliatory attacks, the latter has not be deterred.

• Israel has reportedly responded to Iran’s Saturday attacks on its soil.

Eko Hot Blog reports that an Israeli missile has hit Iran, according to United States (US) officials.

Blasts were heard in the central province of Isfahan in the early hours of Friday and flights have been suspended over several cities, Iranian media report.

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The US reportedly had advance warning of Israel’s retaliation against Iran but “didn’t endorse” it. It had urged Israel not to respond to Iran’s attacks.

Iran is on high alert after Israel said it would respond to an Iranian attack against it on Saturday night.

Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles in its first ever direct attack on Israel.

Almost all were intercepted by Israeli air defences with support from the US, UK and other allies.

Iranian media have not reported any direct impacts and has said all the nuclear facilities are safe. The Israeli military has not commented.

According to an Iranian offical, Iranian air defenses shot down three drones on Friday, as state media said no large-scale strikes or explosions had been reported following blasts near the central city of Isfahan.

Isfahan province is home to a large air base, a major missile production complex and several nuclear sites.

Iran’s Fars news agency says explosions have been heard near Isfahan international airport and an army base in Isfahan city, activating local air defence systems.

Video from Isfahan posted on BBC Persian’s Instagram account shows orange flashes in the night sky and the sound of what appears to be bursts of anti-aircraft fire.

In recent days, Iranian leaders had warned that any Israeli attack on Iran would trigger a “decisive, definitive and regretful” response. There have been attempts among the international community to de-escalate the crisis, with calls for restraint.

On Thursday, UN Secretary General António Guterres said there had been “perilous escalation” between Israel and Iran.

“One miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable – a full-scale regional conflict that would be devastating for all involved,” he told the Security Council.

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The strike, which took place Friday local time, happened on the birthday of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He turns 85.

BBC

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