More than a dozen hours since a massive Israeli aerial attack on Iranian military and nuclear sites, new explosions were heard throughout Tehran and the surrounding suburbs on Friday night, according to Iranian state media.
The explosions took place in western Tehran province, such as cities of Shahriar and Malard, and the Chitgar neighborhood of the city, based on the IRNA news agency. Independently, Mehr News reported that there was an explosion in Pakdasht, southeast of the city. Based on witnesses, the Associated Press reported that the eastern, western, and central areas of Tehran had loud booms, while an AP reporter from the north said he heard an explosion.
Iranian outlets also reported that Iranian air defenses had intercepted and destroyed an Israeli spy drone close to the Fordow nuclear facility, after earlier news of two explosions being heard there.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also affirmed that Israel had made arrangements with the United States before the attack. “We warned them beforehand,” Netanyahu stated in a pre-recorded message, citing US President Donald Trump. “What the US decides to do now is for him to decide.”
Regardless of Netanyahu’s statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on Thursday that the United States was not a party to the military action.
The Israeli attack, using warplanes and secretly imported drones, hit Iran’s main nuclear and military sites, killing leading generals and scientists. Israel said that the attack was required to stop Iran’s move toward nuclear weapons capability.
In response, Iran sent a swarm of drones toward Israel, and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened “severe punishment.” The attack came on the heels of recent rebuke of Iran by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency for non-cooperation with nuclear safeguards.
The escalation, based on tensions from Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault and Trump’s reelection, now has the potential to fuel a wider conflict in the Middle East.
