Explosions near Iran’s Isfahan Airport: was Israel behind the attack? This is what we know so far

Early on Friday morning in Iran, explosions were heard near a military base where fighter jets are housed northwest of Isfahan in central Iran. Several airports in the nation have cancelled outgoing flights and air traffic in the western portion of the country have been rerouted.

The has been no confirmation of what caused the reportedly three explosions which are said to have broken windows of nearby buildings.

Explosions near Iran’s Isfahan Airport: was Israel behind the attack?

US officials have told CNN that Israel has carried out a strike inside Iran in response to the recent “unprecedented” Iranian attack with missiles and drones. The scope of the response Israel had been contemplating was “narrow and limited” and would not include nuclear or civilian targets.

The need to strike inside Iran was deemed necessary given the scale of Iran’s attack last Saturday which was largely thwarted by Israeli air defenses and aid from the US and UK in shooting down the hundreds of drones inflight. The US did not give a “green light” to Israel according to an official.

President Biden has been advising Israel to take the win and not respond. There is concern that this attack will heighten tensions even further and deepen the crisis in the Middle East.

Iran had warned Israel earlier this week not to retaliate. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said his country would deliver a “massive and harsh” response for even the the “tiniest” invasion of its territory. Hours before the explosions were heard in Isfhan, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that any further military action by Israel against his nation would provoke an “immediate and at a maximum level” retaliation.

This is a developing story and we will continue to add information as it becomes available.