Explosions in Iran: What we know so far

After days of anticipation and warnings, Israel has reportedly launched an airstrike on regional rival Iran, further escalating tensions in a region already on alert. Israel has been at war with militants in the Palestinian territory of Gaza since October, when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked. Direct conflict between Iran and Israel threatens to elevate the conflict to a broader level.

A video still from near the reported site of airstrikes in Isfahan.Credit: Twitter

What happened in Iran?

There have been reports of explosions in Iran’s third-largest city on Friday (AEST), with Israeli officials telling The New York Times, that a strike was launched. A US official also said Israel launched a strike against Iran.

The explosions hit near Isfahan city in the country’s centre where there is a key military base.

However, the exact nature of the event is unclear. An Iranian official told Reuters on Friday that the explosions heard in Isfahan were a result of the activation of Iran’s air defence systems and no missile attack was carried out against Iran.

Missiles are carried on a truck as an Iranian army band leader conducts the music band during Army Day parade at a military base in northern Tehran, Iran this month. Credit: AP

Reports also emerged that Israel used armed quadcopters that were launched from within Iran.

Israel reportedly carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in its south and causing material damage, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement as saying Friday.

Why would Israel attack Iran?

The strikes are seen as retaliation from Israel, which, over the weekend, had been the target of hundreds of drones and missiles that Iran launched at it. The US, UK and France helped Israel shoot the drones and missiles down before hitting Israel.

Iran is a regional power that funds and trains militants to routinely attack Israeli targets.

The Iranian attack was itself in response to an April 1 Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy in Syria, where two senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed. Israel has not claimed the strike.

Western and European powers have urged Israel to avoid more direct military action against Iran, for fear that the conflict spirals out of control through the region.

How is this related to the conflict in Gaza?

The tit-for-tat escalations come as Israel continued its controversial operation to attack Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that following its October 7 attacks staged from Gaza into Israel.

Hamas killed 1200 of Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 Israeli citizens. While Hamas runs the administration of the Gaza Strip, it’s also a considered a terror group by Western governments, including Australia’s.

Since October 7, Iran, through its proxy allies in the region, have staged limited attacks on Israeli targets.

How is the US involved?

The US is a long-time security backer of Israel providing military aid, and coordinating in intelligence in the region. The conduct of Israel’s war on Hamas by PM Benjamin Netanyahu has become a source of disagreement between Israel and the US.

The US is walking a fine line of upholding its support while further trying to dial down tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, and the wider Muslim and Arab world.

US President Joe Biden calls US support for Israel “ironclad”. However, the US doesn’t want to be further drawn into a regional conflict that is already costing the White House political capital during an election year.

Complicating the situation is the fact Iran has long-term aspirations to build a nuclear weapon, adding another dimension of insecurity into the situation.

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