Days after Iran launched a missile attack on Israel, the country has suspended flights in several areas including at Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz airports after explosions were heard near the airport at the country’s central Isfahan city, but the cause was not immediately known.
Iranian state media Press TV is reporting outgoing flights from several Iranian airports have been cancelled, citing an Iranian official.
ISRAEL’S RETALIATION SUSPECTED
According to a report published by ABC News, this missile attack on Iran is suspected to be an Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy in Syria. The attack is speculated to be a response by Israel to Iran’s recent drone and missile attack.
The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 am local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.
The semiofficial Fars news agency reported on the sound of explosions over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program. Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a loud noise near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.
NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN IRAN’S ISFAHAN ‘COMPLETELY SECURE’
Nuclear facilities in Isfahan were reported to be “completely secure”, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported, citing “reliable sources”.
According to Iran’s local media, the country activated its air-defense system on Friday morning amid reports of missile and drone strikes by Israel. Israel fired a missile at an Iran airport, ABC News reported citing a US official.