Israel may have launched missile strikes in response to Iran

US officials say Israel launched missile strikes on Iran in response to Tehran's attack on its territory.

Iran's Fars news agency reported today that three loud explosions were heard at a military base in the city of Ghahjaworstan, northwest of Isfahan, central Iran, but the cause is unknown.

A senior US official later told ABC News that Israel launched a missile attack on Iran in retaliation for the April 13 attack. The target of the attack and the extent of the damage were not immediately clear.

Images shared on social media showed air defense missiles intercepting the attack over the city of Isfahan, home to one of Iran's nuclear facilities.

IRNA news agency confirmed that Iran's air defense system was activated in the skies over several provinces to deal with "suspected unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)". All of Iran's nuclear facilities were determined to be unharmed.

Press TV reported that the situation in Isfahan remained normal, with no explosions on the ground. The explosions were recorded when the air defense system was activated to intercept the object in the sky.

Israel launches missile strike in response to Iran — Iran's air defense system intercepts a missile over the city of Isfahan. Video: *X/Henmazzig*

Iran has imposed a flight ban over the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and the capital Tehran. International flights at Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran have been suspended until 2 p.m. on April 19. CNN reported that some planes had to be diverted from Iranian airspace.

Israeli Army Radio reported that senior officials from the country's security forces were gathering at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv. According to the station, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has put its entire base on the highest state of alert.

Israel has not commented on the incident.

Israel's attack was predicted in advance, after Iran on April 13 launched more than 300 missiles and UAVs into Israel in response to the airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Syria earlier this month.

Israel has intercepted most of the drones and missiles in Iran's first direct attack on its territory after years of tense confrontation. Tel Aviv later announced that it would respond, despite many countries urging Israel not to take military action that could increase tensions in the Middle East.

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council on April 18, Iran said Israel "must stop any military adventures against our interests." Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Iran would respond "immediately and to the maximum extent" if Israel carried out a retaliatory attack.

The United Nations Secretary-General has warned that the Middle East is in "an extremely dangerous moment", with Iran and Israel on the brink of miscalculation that could drag the region into a devastating war.