Multiple explosions reported in Iran, is Israel starting to retaliate?

Multiple explosions were reported inside Iran and several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were shot down by the country’s air defense systems on April 19. The information came after unconfirmed media reports that multiple sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran were attacked by Israel.

US officials confirmed to CBS News, CNN and ABC News that the attack was carried out in response to Iran's large-scale airstrikes on Israel over the weekend. A US official reportedly told CNN that the targets of the attacks were neither nuclear nor civilian.

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that commercial flights were diverted early on April 19 in western Iran without explanation amid reports of explosions over the city of Qahjavaristan, near Isfahan airport.

Isfahan is considered a strategically important city and is home to several important sites in Iran, including military research and development sites and the Iranian Air Force's 8th Shekhari Base. The nearby city of Natanz is one of the sites linked to the country's nuclear program. Iranian state television said nuclear facilities in Isfahan remained unharmed.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency quoted sources as saying that air defense systems in Isfahan were activated against "an object suspected to be a drone" and recorded three large explosions near Isfahan airport.

Hossein Dalirian, spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, posted on X that several small quadcopter drones had been shot down.

There have also been other unconfirmed reports of potential attacks near the cities of Daraa in Syria and Baghdad in Iraq.

World - Many explosions reported in Iran, is Israel starting to retaliate? — Explosions are heard in the central Iranian city of Isfahan on April 19, 2024. Graphic: Bloomberg

There were no reports of casualties. There was also no official response from Iran. Iran had warned on April 18 that targeting nuclear sites could lead to a change in its nuclear “doctrine.” The country does not have nuclear weapons but is believed to possess enriched uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Israeli attacks are likely to further escalate tensions in the Middle East, which is already tense with conflict hotspots in the Gaza Strip, northern Israel and southern Lebanon.

Israeli officials pledged earlier this week to respond to Iran’s launch of some 300 missiles and drones at Israel on April 13. Most of the projectiles were intercepted by Israeli and allied defense systems.

That Iranian attack was in response to an alleged Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed two senior Tehran commanders.

The Biden administration has urged Israel not to retaliate against Iran, but Israeli officials have publicly argued that such a blatant Iranian attack must be responded to.

Israeli officials informed the United States on April 18 that they planned to retaliate in the next 24 to 48 hours, Bloomberg reported, citing two US officials. Spokespeople for the White House National Security Council and the Pentagon declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Iran has publicly warned that any Israeli attack would be met with a much harsher response than last weekend's attack.

On the Israeli side, warning sirens were sounded in the north of the country, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF - Israel Army) said on April 19 following reports of an attack on Iran .

Minh Duc (According to The Hill, The Week India, Bloomberg)

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