Israeli Strike in Isfahan Province, Iran
On April 19, 2023, US officials confirmed an Israeli strike in Isfahan province, Iran. This incident occurred days after Iran launched a drone strike on Israel in retaliation for an attack on 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 television reported "loud sounds" heard in Isfahan, a major airbase, as flights diverted around the area amid heightened tensions with Israel. ABC News, citing a US official, also reported that Israeli missiles had hit a site in Iran.
Early Friday morning, commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation. This followed reports from a semi-official news agency in Iran claiming "explosions" had been heard over Isfahan.
The incident comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel.
Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran around 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, although local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.
The semi-official Fars news agency reported the sound of explosions over Isfahan near its international airport, without offering any explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.