DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched its air defense systems early Friday morning following reports of explosions near a major airbase in Isfahan, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
It was not clear if the country was being attacked. However, tensions are high after Iran’s unusual missile and drone attack on Israel. An official suggested that drones may have targeted some locations.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
IRNA mentioned that the defenses were activated across several provinces. The cause of the activation was not explained, although people in the area reported hearing the sounds.
IRNA specifically mentioned that air defense systems were activated at a major airbase in Isfahan, which has been home to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats since before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported hearing blasts, without providing a cause. State television acknowledged the “loud noise” in the area.
Isfahan is also home to sites linked to Iran’s nuclear program, including the underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli attacks. However, state television assured that all sites in the area were “fully safe.”
Dubai-based airlines Emirates and FlyDubai began to divert around western Iran around 4:30 a.m. local time. They did not offer an explanation, although local aviation warnings suggested that the airspace might have been closed.
Iran later announced the suspension of commercial flights in Tehran and across parts of its western and central regions. Customers at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran were reportedly informed of the incident through loudspeakers, as shown in online videos.
Iranian state television issued an on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without providing immediate details.
Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran’s civilian space program, stated on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It was not immediately clear where this occurred or if it was connected to the ongoing incident in Iran.
Meanwhile in Iraq, where several Iranian-backed militias are located, residents of Baghdad reported hearing explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.
