## Israeli Strike in Isfahan Province, Iran
On April 19, 2023, US officials confirmed an Israeli strike in Isfahan province of Iran. This came days after Iran launched a drone strike on Israel in response to an attack at the Iranian embassy in Syria. Isfahan province is home to several Iranian nuclear sites, including Natanz, the centerpiece of Iran's uranium enrichment program.
Iranian state TV reported "loud sounds" in Isfahan, a major airbase, as flights diverted around the area amid tensions with Israel. ABC News also reported, citing a US official, that Israeli missiles had hit a site in Iran.
Early Friday morning, commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation. This coincided with reports of "explosions" heard over Isfahan by a semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic.
The incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's missile-and-drone attack on Israel.
Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran around 4:30 a.m. local time, offering no explanation. However, local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.
The semiofficial Fars news agency reported the sound of explosions over Isfahan near its international airport, without offering an explanation. Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.