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The Journey Of A Persian Princess: Iran Air B747SP

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Simple Flying

Iran air looks to unground 7 aircraft.

With spare parts becoming increasingly sparse due to ongoing sanctions, Iran has expanded its domestic engineering capabilities.

Iran Air has revealed plans to bring seven stored aircraft back into service thanks to the country's new-found domestic maintenance capabilities. The airline hopes to have the aircraft in the skies once more within six months.

Iran Air's CEO, Shamseddin Farzadipour, was quoted by the ILNA news agency as saying, " Our priority is domestic repair, and seven planes will become airworthy in the next six months, " before adding that the aircraft would likely be used on busy routes to Iraq, catering for the large market of Iranian pilgrims visiting holy sites in the neighboring country.

Struggling in the face of sanctions

As a result of sanctions that make carrying out repair work and sourcing spare parts more challenging, Iran Air has struggled to maintain its fleet of primarily Airbus aircraft. Thanks to a greater focus on domestic maintenance services over recent months, the airline now hopes to be in a position to return seven of its preciously-grounded aircraft to the skies.

The airline did not state exactly which aircraft would be returning to service, however, data from ch-aviation shows that nearly two-thirds of Iran Air's passenger fleet is currently grounded, including:

• 3 x Airbus A300s
• 2 x Airbus A310s
• 3 x Airbus A319s
• 5 x Airbus A320s
• 1 x Airbus A321
• 2 x Airbus A330-200s
• 13 x ATR 72-600s.

Iran Air's active fleet of 11 passenger aircraft is left to operate the airline's route network across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. At the end of July, the carrier will increase the frequency of its longest route, Tehran (IKA) to London Heathrow (LHR), from three to four per week. Iran Air's other intercontinental destinations include Milan (MXP), Paris (CDG), and Hamburg (HAM).

Recognizing the need for investment in its aviation infrastructure, the Iranian Government has put aside funds to support the country's airlines in their efforts to get their aircraft back in the skies. A number of other Iranian carriers have reportedly already managed to return aircraft to service in this way, with Qeshm Air and Aseman Airlines bringing back an Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, respectively, in February this year.

In addition, the program has been expanded to offer maintenance and repair services to foreign airlines also struggling with sanctions. Unconfirmed reports last year suggested that a number of Russian aircraft had already been in Iran for maintenance work.

Discover a brief history of Iran Air with this report from the Simple Flying team.

Iran Air's fleet modernization

As well as bringing back older aircraft, Iran Air also intends to modernize its aging fleet - something that is much needed, given the average age of the carrier's fleet currently stands at 25.7 years old.

Iran Air has a number of outstanding orders with Airbus, including 32 A320neos, 28 A330neos, and 16 A350s . The orders date back to 2016, but only a handful of aircraft were delivered before the US imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018.

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What do you think of Iran Air's plans to bring seven of its stored aircraft back into service? Have you flown on the airline? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.

Source: ch-aviation.com , Tasnim News Agency

• International

Israel launches strike on Iran, US official says

By Kathleen Magramo, Elizabeth Wolfe and Aditi Sangal, CNN

Iran lifts flight suspensions put in place following reports of explosions

From CNN's Adam Pourahmadi and Irene Nasser

Iran has lifted flight suspensions put in place after reports of explosions near a military base in Isfahan province, according to the spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Organization.

"We inform you that the operational restrictions imposed on the airports have been removed and the airlines are allowed to carry out scheduled flights," the spokesperson said.

Flights have resumed at Mehrabad Airport and Imam Khomeini International Airport, the two major airports in Iran's capital, Tehran, after being suspended earlier today.

Iran had earlier temporarily suspended all flights heading to the cities of “Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, the airports of the West, North West and South West," state-run Mehr TV reported.

Outgoing flights were also briefly canceled.

Iranian state media reports no major disruption to Isfahan's infrastructure

From CNN's Nic Robertson and Elizabeth Wolfe

Following a strike in Iran's Isfahan province, Iranian state media are reporting that all facilities in the area are secure, including significant nuclear facilities, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson reports.

Though a US official told CNN Israel has carried out a strike inside Iran, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

"The overall impression that's being related by the Iranian government and other media outlets in Iran is that whatever events have happened — and they do leave it rather ambiguous — it has not damaged significantly any important facilities near Isfahan," Robertson said.

State media is also reporting that they have not had any enemy aircraft come into Iranian airspace, he added.

"The gloves have come off:" Experts warn an escalating tit-for-tat could have dire consequences

From CNN's Elizabeth Wolfe

The strike against Iran early Friday is just the latest in an intensifying and uncertain series of attacks in the Middle East.

Should a tit-for-tat between Israel and Iran develop, the conflict between the nations threatens to get "very grim very quickly," an international relations expert told CNN.

Iran could choose to target Israel through proxies in Lebanon and Iraq, as well as with the help of Hamas in Gaza and the Houthi militant group in Yemen, Ghosh said.

Friday's strikes have pitched the conflict into "unknown territory," he said.

"With this escalation of risk-taking, there's always a chance that the next step up is going to be the step too far," Ghosh said.

CNN Global Affairs Analyst Kim Dozier said this "escalation ladder" between the countries could lead to "something really dire — an all-out back and forth between the two."

US Secretary of Defense spoke with Israeli Defense Minister before Israel attacked Iran

From CNN's Mary Kay Mallonee

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant earlier Thursday about “regional threats and Iran’s destabilizing actions in the Middle East,” according to a Pentagon readout.

The call happened before Israel carried out a strike inside Iran . The Pentagon readout does not mention any discussion of Israel’s plans to attack.

Austin also discussed "the importance of increasing and sustaining the flow of humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians, including via the new route from Ashdod Port in Israel," the readout said.

CNN reported Thursday night that Israel had told the US that it would be retaliating against Iran in the coming days, according to a senior US official.

Iran's air defense downs 3 drones, official says, as state media reports no large-scale strikes

From CNN's Adam Pourahmadi and Hamdi Alkhshali

Iranian air defenses shot down three drones Friday, according to a Tehran official, as state media said no large-scale strikes or explosions had been reported following blasts near the central city of Isfahan.

It comes after a US official told CNN Friday that Israel had carried out a strike inside Iran, in a move that threatens to raise regional tensions.

Iran's air defense systems were activated in several regions as a precaution against potential aerial threats, according to state news agency IRNA.

“Following the activation of air defense in some parts of the country to deal with some possible targets, reports indicate that so far, no large-scale strikes or explosions caused by any air threat has been reported,” IRNA said early Friday local time.

Extensive checks in Isfahan, a critical central province with significant nuclear facilities, indicate that all sensitive military and security installations remain secure, with no incidents reported.

Missile defense systems were not activated, IRNA added.

Australia urges its citizens to leave Israel after strike on Iran 

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong 

The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) urged its citizens in Israel to "depart if it's safe to do so."

"There’s a high threat of military reprisals & terrorist attacks against Israel & Israeli interests across the region. The security situation could deteriorate quickly. We urge Australians in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories to depart if it's safe to do so," read a post in the  Smart Traveller account on X , which posts advice from DFAT.

The department warned that "military attacks may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations & diversions & other travel disruptions."

It is concerned that Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport "may pause operations due to heightened security concerns at any time, & at short notice."

Why Israel's strike on Iran threatens to push the Middle East deeper into conflict

From CNN staff

Israel has carried out a strike inside Iran, a US official tells CNN, in a move that threatens to trigger further deadly conflict throughout the Middle East.

The attack came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian  told CNN  that if  Israel takes any further military action against Iran, its response would be “immediate and at a maximum level.”

The details of a potential “maximum response” have been planned by Iran’s armed forces, he said.

Israel had for days been weighing its response to Iran's unprecedented weekend strikes, most of which were intercepted .

Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month.

That airstrike  destroyed the consulate building and killed at least seven officials, including two top commanders.

Israeli military says they have "no comment" following reports of explosions in Iran

From CNN's Benjamin Brown and Irene Nasser

The Israeli military said they "don't have a comment at this time," when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran.

Israel carried out a strike inside Iran early Friday local time, a US official tells CNN. The target is not nuclear, the official said.

The US also said it had advance warning of Israel's retaliation against Iran but "didn't endorse" it, a senior US official said.

US had advance warning of Israel's retaliation against Iran but "didn't endorse" it, US official says

From CNN's Alex Marquardt

Israel had told the US on Thursday it would be retaliating against Iran in the coming days, a senior US official said.

"We didn't endorse the response," the official said.

Israel had been weighing a response to Iran's weekend airstrikes targeting the Jewish state, most of which were intercepted.

Israel has carried out a strike inside Iran, a US official tells CNN. The attack came just hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN in an interview that if  Israel  takes any further military action against it would be “immediate and at a maximum level."

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BREAKING: Israel Retaliates Against Iran, Travel Disruptions

In a tit-for-tat air-only conflict between Israel and Iran, Israel has fired its latest salvo, and flight disruptions abound. 

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Israel Launches Offensive

Israel has launched an offensive against Iran, *limited in scope (a prior version of this post cited a report that seven cities had been targeted as well as sites in Iraq and Syria which has since been rescinded.) According to reports, in the early hours of the morning, Israel sent a combination of missiles and drones to targets throughout the country triggering air defense systems.

The attack appeared to be far more limited than the Iranian response last week with one Iranian official stating just three small drones were sent and shot down without incident. Military targets included an air base housing F-14 Tomcats and another, an army radar station.

“Iranian air defenses have shot down three drones, allegedly launched by Israel, according to Iran’s space agency. “They said that we fired 500 suicide drones and missiles… now they respond with three of these quadcopter, all of which were shut down,” Iran’s space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian writes on X. “They just say that they didn’t inform America before,” he adds with emoji smiles, in an apparent jab at recent tensions in relations between Israel and the United States amid the ongoing war in Gaza.” – Times of Israel

Scenes in the central city of Isfahan appeared calm. Rumors swirled that Iranian nuclear sites were targeted but this has been mostly debunked.

How The Conflict Escalated

According to regional news agencies, some weeks ago Israel assassinated a senior Iranian military official in Iran’s Syrian embassy. Israel did this while continuing to fight in Gaza, a war that has nearly reached 200 days. Unlike the beginning of the Gaza conflict which stemmed from an October 7th surprise attack on Israel, the Iranian attack was against an official from a state that had not yet fired on Israel, the strike was done in another country that again is not part of the Gaza conflict and it took place at a Diplomatic facility.

Iran struck Israel in response with 300 munitions , most of which were shot down by US, UK, and Israeli forces inflicting nearly no damage according to officials.

Today’s Israeli strike on Iran is in response to that event last week. Brent Crude Oil prices were up 3% on the news.

Flight Disruptions

Iranian state television noted that Iran closed its airspace as defense measures took place and attacks began. Flights from the country’s largest airport in Tehran closed as well.

“Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.” – Associated Press

“Flights to Israel are set to remain disrupted for months amid heightened tensions with Iran , while other routes may take longer as airlines skirt the volatile region. British low-cost carrier easyJet on Tuesday said it was extending its suspension of Israel flights for the remainder of the summer season, until Oct. 27, and would refund customers due to fly. Rival Wizz Air resumed flights to Tel Aviv on Tuesday but said that passengers may experience “schedule changes” and that it was monitoring the situation. Dutch airline KLM canceled flights to Israel until April 21, and said it was not flying over Iran and Israel. Air India said it had temporarily suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv and its Tuesday service was listed as canceled. Germany’s Lufthansa Group said it had resumed flights to Tel Aviv, Amman, Jordan, and Irbil, Iraq, on Tuesday, but had canceled flights to Tehran, Iran, and Beirut up until Thursday. It also said it is not using Iranian airspace currently.” – CNBC

Should the conflict escalate, more disruptions will occur. As most Western nations have avoided flying over Ukraine and Russia, Iran represents a key passageway from Europe to Asia without significant deviation. If a full war were to break out, airlines from Europe and Asia will have to adjust schedules significantly or opt for full cancellations or technical stops to get around the conflict regions.

With tensions ratcheting up in the Middle East, further disruptions will occur. Saudi officials have sought a peace deal with Israel that would normalize relations throughout the region. That deal will get tougher to close as retaliations persist.

What do you think?

About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: [email protected]

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12 comments.

Kyle Stewart writes that unconfirmed reports are that 7 Iranian cities were targeted as well as targets in Syria and Iraq. The BBC and CNN reports, unless I am mistaken, only targets near Isfahan. Who is correct?

This is tit or tat.

Israel bombed the Iranian embassy in Syria. Bombing embassies is normally bad. However, Israel’s excuse is probably that no Iranian commanders are safe anywhere. One could also say that Iran doesn’t respect embassies as evidenced by the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran and taking of US diplomatic personnel as hostages.

Iran could be seen as either attacking Israel or retaliating for the bombing of its embassy.

Israel, since it wants to retaliate, has chosen targets wisely. It seems that it really wants tit for tat. It probably doesn’t want an all out war. However, it wants to send a message. Not just a retaliation message but a message that it can destroy Iranian nuclear facilities, a lot of them around Isfahan. So Israel sent planes to bomb Isfahan military bases but not nuclear facilities just to show that it can.

This time around, Israel doesn’t want to do a Gaza in Iran, i.e. collective punishment, massive destruction, like in Gaza.

@Derek – Just a note on the first line. I cited about half a dozen sources throughout the piece, but the source that stated “seven sites” has since updated the article and also removed Syrian and Iraqi targets from the same piece. I have reflected this in the notes, but to be clear, it’s an evolving situation and not everything is known. I included it initially with “unconfirmed” as that’s how the source noted it. It doesn’t appear to have been the case.

Live and Let’s Fly doesn’t have its own spy satellite or spies on the ground so ok.

The US once invaded Iran and left leaflets warning them not to mess with the Olympics so to show that they could invade undetected. Israel probably tried something like that yesterday.

So at his moment Russian Airspace is closed for many airlines. Now with the looming war in the ME when will the Iranian Airspace and as a whole the Persian Gulf Region will be closed for Western Airlines??

Welcome everyone, back in the Cold War era! Now ultra long haul flights will become trendy or the new normality as flights have to divert increasinly to get to their destinations. For example Europe to Australia..Europe to EastAsia/SEA.

Never thought of that!? Everyone is only thinking about Israelis and Iranians as if they are so far away from their usual mundane life.

IRGC and Iranian military targets aren’t completely embedded among the civilian population as Hamas has done in Gaza. There is no “collective punishment,” in Gaza but rather the natural consequences of collateral damage one would expect given the fact that Hamas uses it’s population as human shields and after the gross atrocities on 7/10 the Israelis will no longer allow them them get away with it.

That’s some serious hasbara propaganda right there.

Iran is a land of Morons .

There are actually quite a lot of educated people in Iran (and for sure Iranians that fled Iran already). The issue is the ayattolah regime and its group of supporters, which is estimated to be around 30% of the population. And, of course, amongst this group of Shia Islamist flat-earthers, you’ll find also some educated, smart people who are just indoctrinated to believe all the nonsense this regime is about.

@Dude26 … +1 . Having been there , I based my opinion only on the thieves I encountered .

If Iran’s theocracy decides to push it to active war (and, really, what did the Prophet say about the Jews? Oh, yeah, this (in translation): “The believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good will have their rewards with their Lord. No fear for them, nor will they grieve.” (Quran 5:69)), then planes are definitely going to have to avoid Iranian airspace. Fallout and radiation are things to be avoided.

Netenyahu and his government are the ones who seem to pushing for a regional war.

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Iran air defences activated amid reports of Israeli strike near city of Isfahan — as it happened

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has "urged" Australians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to leave "if it's safe to do so".

The updated travel advice comes after Iran fired anti-aircraft missiles on Friday amid reports of an Israeli missile strike near the city of Isfahan.

In updated travel advice, DFAT noted "a high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region".

Look back on our live coverage in our blog below.

• 6:48 AM 6:48 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 6:48am Minister says Australia 'extremely' concerned about potential for 'further escalation'
• 5:46 AM 5:46 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 5:46am An apparent Israeli strike puts US President Joe Biden in a tricky spot
• 4:56 AM 4:56 AM Fri 19 Apr 2024 at 4:56am Australian government updates travel advice for Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

To leave a comment on the blog, please log in or sign up for an ABC account.

Live updates

That is where we will leave our live coverage.

By Claudia Williams

Thank you for joining us. Here is where things stand:

• Sources say Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil on Friday
• Iranian media reported explosions, which an Iranian official told Reuters were caused by air defense systems
• Three drones over the central city of Isfahan had been shot down, according to state media
• A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran has no plan to strike back immediately
• A source familiar with the situation said the US was notified before Israel's attack
• The attack came days after Iran launched an unprecedented strike on Israel with a barrage of drones and missiles
• Israel's leadership and the military have not commented on the reports

Egypt 'deeply concerned' over Iran-Israel escalation

Egypt's foreign ministry said it was "deeply concerned" about an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, following reports of an Israeli attack on Iran.

It also warned of the consequences of expanding the conflict and instability in the region.

EU Commission president calls on Israel, Iran to refrain from escalation

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has called on Iran, Israel and their allies to refrain from escalation in the Middle East.

"It is absolutely necessary that the region remains stable and that all sides restrain from further action," she said.

State media says Israeli strike targeted air defence unit in Syria

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

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.

The Observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman said six Israeli fighter jets entered Syria’s airspace and were flying east when they were spotted by the radar.

The warplanes were seen around the time loud noises and drones were reported near a major Iranian air base and nuclear site early Friday.

That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers away, and east of Israel.

Israelis respond to reports of attack on Iran

  Let's take a look at how residents in Israel have responded to reports of the attack in Iran.

"Israel attacked Iran land because we were supposed to... we have no other option beside to react, but this is not the way we want it to be, we want to get back to our routine; our life - to run, to live our life, no more wars, enough." — Tel Aviv resident Moshe Pretz

"We're good, you can look around, we're happy here, not from the attack but I think the situation in the Middle East is complicated but Israel will always win and everybody has to know that. So, enjoy your day and hope people in Iran will understand we are not seeking for war but we are seeking for peace and we want to be here safe, so, understand that." — Pavlo Tzuk from Central Israel

"I am very sad that Israel attacked Iran and I am afraid what will happen now, what will be in Israel." —Israeli resident Edna Reshef

Expert says reports indicate it could be a targeted attack

Samir Puri from King's College London said the reported attack appeared to be no where near the scale of the one that Israel had suffered from Iran.

He said this could indicate that it was a targeted attack.

"If Iran has been struck by only a handful of Israel missiles it might have been a very precisely targeted attempt to strike Iranian military facilities, and in particular, facilities Iran might have used to launch its own attack a few days ago on April 13 against Israel," he told ABC News Channel.

Dr Puri said the great uncertainty was whether there would be further waves of Israeli attacks.

"We can't speak of this as a finished episode necessarily," he said. "It is possible that Israel and Iran might back into their more undeclared way of sniping at each other and of striking blows at each other, which has been going on for years and decades through proxies and more covert action. "The reason why this is such a show stopping and perilous moment is that they have not lobbed missiles and drones at each other from their own territory ever before. "We are really hoping to see that this particular cycle comes to an end and clearly nothing is going to solve Iran and Israel's deep enmity in the region across many, many issues, made even worse by the conflict in Gaza. "But we are just hoping to see that it slips away from this current phase."

Oman condemns reported Israeli attack on Iran

In a statementOman's foreign ministry has condemned the reported Israeli attack on Iranian soil, as well as "the repeated Israeli military attacks in the region".

Oman has been acting as a mediator in the Middle East.

Unnamed Iranian official says there's no plan for an immediate retaliation

A senior Iranian official has told Reuters news agency Iran has no plan for immediate retaliation against Israel after sources said Israel launched an attack on Iranian soil.

"The foreign source of the incident has not been confirmed," the Iranian official said on condition of anonymity. "We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack."

Iran's airports and airspace reopen

Earlier we covered that Iran had closed its airports in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan after the reported attack.

It also cleared flights from the western portion of its airspace for a few hours after the attack, according to FlightRadar24.

State media is now reporting the airports and airspace have reopened.

Minister says Australia 'extremely' concerned about potential for 'further escalation'

Earlier we reported that DFAT had updated its travel advice for   Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories .

Acting Foreign Minister Katy Gallagher has issued a statement following the reports.

"Australia remains extremely concerned about the potential for miscalculation and further escalation of conflict in the region," she said. "This is in no one's interests. "We urge all parties to exercise restraint and step back to avoid a further spiral of violence. "Australia will continue working with partners to try to reduce tensions and prevent further regional spillover."

This was the outcome world leaders were keen to avoid

By Rebecca Armitage

ABC correspondent Isabella Higgins who's currently in Jerusalem, says that after Iran struck Israel last weekend, world leaders have been trying to avoid a tit-for-tat escalation of retaliatory strikes:

"For days, world leaders have been urging calm on Israel, amid fears a major retaliation would drag the region into a serious war. "The Middle East is on the on a precipice … one miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable – a full-scale regional conflict," the UN's Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The Israeli Government made it clear they would respond to last weekend's unprecedented missile and drone attack from Iran. Tehran said the barrage was a retaliatory strike in response to the killing of several Iranian leaders in a presumed Israeli air strike on an embassy in Damascus earlier this month — and the matter was now concluded. The US, UK and European Union have been encouraging Israel to accept a package of international economic sanction in response to Iran's attack and avoid a serious military reprisal. Israel's western partners felt this walked the tightrope of deterring Tehran, without further escalation. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation would do what it felt it needed to defend itself. "They also have all kinds of suggestions and advice, I appreciate it, but I want to make it clear — we will make our own decisions." These decisions appear to be playing out in front of us right now — and the West will be watching anxiously."

Expert says Israel and Iran both in difficult positions domestically, need to show strong response

University of Melbourne Political Sciences lecturer Dara Conduit has told ABC News Channel the way that Israel and Iran are responding speaks to the severity of the situation.

"The government in Israel and the regime in Iran are both in difficult positions domestically and they both have a really strong need to show to a domestic audience that they are responding to this," she said. "Israel, [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu in particular, needed to do this. Domestically he is in a really tight spot and he is very keen to show strength and also to highlight the regional risks that Israel faces."

Dr Conduit said how Iran was reacting was important with it trying to diminish the reports.

"There is a chance that Iranian officials, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will decide we can't accept this and we do need to respond and that is where there is a risk of miscalculation and a risk of mistakes and that is the scary part." she said.

Dr Conduit said she believed both sides were aware that there would not be "any winners of a direct conflict between the two states".

IAEA confirms no damage made to Iran's nuclear sites

An apparent israeli strike puts us president joe biden in a tricky spot.

This is not what the White House wanted, according to Barbara Miller, the ABC's North America correspondent based in Washington DC:  

"The US has been trying to dissuade its ally from retaliating for the Iranian weekend strikes. The message from the administration was that Israel should take the win. With the help of its allies it had repelled the vast majority of the Iranian drones and missiles. The White House announced new sanctions on Iran in a further show of solidarity with Israel. It became increasingly clear however that Israel would act, stoking fears in Washington of an escalating tit for tat situation. From what we know so far this appears to have been a limited action. If that's the case, there will be hope here that Iran may draw a line. An interview Iran's Foreign Minister gave CNN just hours before news of the apparent Israeli action is cause for concern. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told the network Iran would respond immediately and "at a maximum level" if Israel struck.

Unnamed sources say Israel attacked Iran, state media says Iran defence system destroyed drones

Here is a recap of what is being reported as information continues to come in.

Three people familiar with the matter have told Reuters news agency Israel has attacked Iran.

Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones.  

The reports come days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.

One source told Reuters the US was not involved but was notified by Israel before the attack.

Iran's Fars news agency reported three explosions were heard near an army base in the central city of Isfahan.

An Iranian official told Reuters there was no missile attack and the explosions were the result of the activation of Iran's air defense systems.

Iranian state TV said that shortly after midnight "three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan".

"The air defense system became active and destroyed these drones in the sky," state media reported.

The broadcaster later said the situation in Isfahan was normal and no ground explosions had occurred.

The Israeli military had no comment on the reports.

Iranian spokesman says 'quadcopter' drones shot down

We mentioned earlier that an Iranian government official and state-run TV have suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.

We now have some more information on what has been said.

Hossein Dalirian, who is a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on X that several small "quadcopter" drones had been shot down.

A state television reporter in Isfahan said the same in a live report, saying "several small drones were flying in the sky over Isfahan, which were fired at".

Iranian senior commander says no damage was caused

A senior commander of Iran's army has said no damage was caused in the overnight attack, according to state TV.

He added that the noise heard overnight in Isfahan was due to air defence systems targeting a "suspicious object".

Australian government updates travel advice for Iran, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

By Tom Crowley

In updated travel advice, DFAT notes "a high threat of military reprisals and terrorist attacks against Israel and Israeli interests across the region".

"The security situation could deteriorate quickly, with little or no notice."

DFAT had already advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Israel and had warned against travel near Gaza or the West Bank beyond East Jerusalem.

But the request to leave is new.

DFAT warned military attacks could lead to travel disruptions including airspace closures. "Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport may pause operations due to heightened security concerns at any time, and at short notice."

A stronger 'do not travel' warning was already in place for Iran, but DFAT has updated its advice for that country, saying "regional tensions are high, and the security situation could deteriorate quickly with little or no notice."

Australian government officials have been directed not to leave the cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tehran as a precaution.

'Do not travel' warnings remain in place for Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.

Australian citizens and permanent residents can register their location and stay in contact with officials via DFAT's crisis registration portal.

Nuclear facility in area where explosions heard

Malcolm Davis, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has told ABC News the key facility in the area was the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

As we covered earlier, Iranian state media has described all nuclear sites in the area as "fully safe."

Dr Davis said it was a "harder and deeply buried target" and was one of the core aspects of Iran's potential to acquire nuclear weapons.

"There's also a series of military bases nearby that site as well as well as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps bases in the region," he said.

Dr Davis said Israel could not afford to allow Iran to get nuclear weapons.

"When you look at the size of Israel, the use of a nuclear weapon against Israel by Iran would be an existential threat to Israel itself," he said.

"So, I think that Israel would have every interest in preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons under any circumstances including if necessary through military strikes."

Could this be the beginning of a broader conflict?

Here's what Allyson Horn, the ABC's Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem, says:  

"I'll start by saying you never know what's going to happen in the Middle East – and that very little is still confirmed on this unfolding issue.

But if, as it appears, these are limited, targeted drone strikes on military facilities in Iran, then it would be considered at the lesser end of the responses that Israel could have exacted.

We need to still see what the damage is in Iran, and whether there have been any civilian casualties, because that could change what Iran decides to do next.

Last weekend, Iran launched a missile barrage against Israel — most of it intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system.

And after that Iranian attack, there was a lot of internal pressure from within Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, to hit-back immediately, and strike hard.

That doesn't appear to have happened – it wasn't immediate and it appears the US was given warning ahead of time. And it also appears to be only a few drones launched into Iran, targeting limited military sites.

That's not to say that the Israeli response isn't serious – it is. Israel is still directing an attack on Iranian soil, which in itself will be seen as a provocation. And Iran could decide that it has to respond.

So the threat of escalation is high – and it's real.

But, it could also be seen by Iran as an expected response by Israel – and one that didn't target civilians – therefore lessening Iran's appetite to prompt a wider-regional conflict."

Three drones downed after explosions heard in Iran’s Isfahan: State media

US media reported Israel launched missile attack on target in Iran, but there has been no official comment from Israel.

Iran’s air defences have brought down three small drones over the central city of Isfahan, state media reported, hours after United States broadcasters, quoting senior US officials, said Israeli missiles had hit an Iranian site.

Iranian state television reported explosions in Isfahan as air defences were activated and flights across several areas, including the capital, Tehran, and Isfahan, were suspended.

Keep reading

Us imposes new sanctions on iran after attack on israel, israel’s response to iran and the factors that will shape it, israeli attack on nuclear sites to prompt tit-for-tat, pursuing nukes: iran, iran, israel and the potential for miscalculation.

Airspace was reopened about four and a half hours after the incident and there were no reports of casualties.

Second Brigadier General Siavash Mihandoust, the top military official in Isfahan, told state media that air defence batteries hit “a suspicious object” and there was no damage.

ABC News and CBS News had reported earlier that Israel had carried out a military operation in Iran.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the US told the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers that it had been “informed at the last minute” by Israel about an attack on Iran.

“But there was no sharing of the attack by the US. It was a mere information,” Tajani told reporters in Capri, Italy, where the G7 ministers met.

However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken refused to confirm reports about the Israeli attack, during a news conference in Capri.

“I’m not going to speak to that, except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operation,” Blinken said.

The top US diplomat said the G7’s focus is on de-escalation. Asked to describe the current US-Israel relationship, Blinken noted that Israel makes its own decisions, but the US is committed to its security.

Iranian media said no strikes were launched on Iran from outside the country, and the attack was believed to have been carried out using small quadcopters that would have to have been launched from inside Iran.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari said Iranian media were downplaying the incident.

“The location in Isfahan province is an Iranian military airbase that belongs to the country’s army, and not the Revolutionary Guards [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC]. I think it’s important to highlight that,” she said. “This base houses multiple squadrons of F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft.”

“We also understand that the air defence systems over the city of Tabriz in the northwestern part of Iran were also activated,” Jabbari reported.

A military factory belonging to the Iranian army in Isfahan was attacked by multiple quadcopters in January 2023, failing to damage the facility that was protected by air defence batteries and mesh wiring on its roof to counter small unmanned aerial vehicles.

Iran blamed Israel for that attack and arrested four people, executing one of them in January 2024, for operating on behalf of Mossad, the Israeli spy agency.

Israel had promised to respond after Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles on the country on April 13, after a suspected Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate compound in Damascus killed 16 people, including two IRGC senior generals.

Governments around the world urged restraint and a push to de-escalate tensions across the region.

Isfahan is considered a strategically important city and one that is host to several important sites, including military research and development facilities, as well as bases. The nearby city of Natanz is the location of one of Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites.

In a speech in Damghan, in central Iran, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi made no mention of Isfahan but praised the Iranian attacks on Israel, saying they gave the country strength and unity.

Kioumars Heydari, the commander-in-chief of the ground forces of the Iranian army, said Iran remains vigilant to confront any other potential aerial threats.

“If suspicious flying objects appear in the sky of the country, they will be targeted by our powerful air defence,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run IRNA  news agency ahead of Friday prayers in Tehran.

‘No damage’ to nuclear facilities

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that “there is no damage” to Iranian nuclear sites as the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s chief Rafael Grossi called for restraint and said nuclear facilities should never be targeted in military conflicts.

IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to #Iran ’s nuclear sites. DG @rafaelmgrossi continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely. pic.twitter.com/4F7pAlNjWM — IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) April 19, 2024

The reported attack “was far more limited than many expected”, Iranian arms control expert Ali Ahmadi told Al Jazeera, adding that Israel “has much more limitations in its operational range” than many think.

“Certainly, after Iran’s retaliatory capacity was criticised, it benefits from advertising how ineffective what Israel did was as well. Iran also needs to prepare the public for a much softer reaction than it has talked about in the last couple of days,” he pointed out.

Ahmadi said that prior to today’s incident, Iran was preparing several options for a massive retaliation , including getting allies involved.

But considering the limited scope and impact of the alleged attack, which he described as a “security sabotage” rather than a “military assault”, it would be a mistake to carry out a significant response, he stressed.

There were also reports of explosions in Iraq and Syria, with Iranian state media saying there were explosions at multiple military-linked sites in Syria.

Syria’s official news agency SANA quoted a military source as saying that missile strikes in the early hours of the morning caused material damage to air defence sites in the country’s southern region. The report did not specify the exact location and the extent of the damage but blamed Israel.

The US and a number of European countries had been calling on Israel not to respond to Iran’s attack.

On Thursday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres painted a dark picture of the situation in the Middle East, warning that spiralling tensions over Israel’s war on Gaza and Iran’s attack on Israel could descend into a “full-scale regional conflict”.

“The Middle East is on a precipice. Recent days have seen a perilous escalation – in words and deeds,” Guterres told the UN Security Council.

“One miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable – a full-scale regional conflict that would be devastating for all involved,” he said, calling on all parties to exercise “maximum restraint”.

Factbox-What Iran and Israel Would Wield in a Long-Range Air War

An Iranian drone is seen during the National Army Day parade ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 17, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Iran's first direct attack on Israel on April 13 has brought renewed focus on their air-defence capabilities as Israeli leaders decide how best to respond.

Below is a look at both countries' air forces and aerial defence systems:

The Iranian air force has 37,000 personnel, but decades of international sanctions have largely cut the country off from the latest high-tech military equipment, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London (IISS). 

War in Israel and Gaza

The air force only has a few dozen working strike aircraft, including Russian jets and ageing U.S. models acquired before the Iranian revolution of 1979.

Tehran has a squadron of nine F-4 and F-5 fighter jets, one squadron of Russian-made Sukhoi-24 jets, and some MiG-29s, F7 and F14 aircraft, IISS said. 

The Iranians also have pilotless planes designed to fly into targets and explode. Analysts believe this drone arsenal numbers in the low thousands. In addition, they say, Iran has more than 3,500 surface-to-surface missiles, some of which carry half-tonne warheads. The number capable of reaching Israel may be lower, however.

Iran's Air force Commander, Amir Vahedi, on Wednesday said the Sukhoi-24s, were in their "best state of preparedness" to counter any potential Israeli attack.

But Iran's dependence on Sukhoi-24s jets, first developed in the 1960s, shows the relative weakness of its air force.

For defence, Iran relies on a mixture of Russian and domestically produced surface-to-air missile and air defence systems.

Tehran received deliveries of the S-300 anti-aircraft system from Russia in 2016, which are long-range surface-to-air missile systems capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, including aircraft and ballistic missiles.

Iran also has the domestically produced Bavar-373 surface-to-air missile platform, as well as the Sayyad and Raad defence systems.

Fabian Hinz, a research fellow at IISS, said: "If there was a major conflict between the two countries, Iran would probably concentrate on occasional successes. They don't have the comprehensive air defences that Israel has."

Israel has an advanced, U.S.-supplied air force with hundreds of F-15, F-16 and F-35 multipurpose jet fighters. These played a role in shooting down Iranian drones at the weekend.

The air force lacks long-range bombers, though a smaller fleet of repurposed Boeing 707s serve as refueling tankers that could enable its fighters to reach Iran for pinpoint sorties.

A pioneer in drone technology, Israel has Heron pilotless planes capable of flying for more than 30 hours, enough for far-flung operations. Its Delilah loitering munition has an estimated range of 250 km (155 miles) - far short of the Gulf, though the air force could close the gap by delivering one of the munitions closer to Iran's border.

Israel is widely believed to have developed long-range surface-to-surface missiles, but neither confirms nor denies this. In 2018, then-Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced that the Israeli military would get a new "missile force". The military has not said where those plans now stand.

A multi-layer aerial defence system developed with U.S. help after the 1991 Gulf war provides Israel will several additional options for shooting down long-range Iranian drones and missiles.

The highest-altitude system is Arrow-3, which intercepts ballistic missiles in space. An earlier model, Arrow-2, works at lower altitudes. The mid-range David's Sling counters ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, while the short-range Iron Dome tackles the kind of rockets and mortars used by Iranian-backed militias in Gaza and Lebanon - but can also, in theory, be fired at any more powerful missiles missed by Arrow or David's Sling.

The Israeli systems are designed to be patched into counterpart U.S. interceptors in the region for coalition-strength defences.  

"Israel’s air defences performed well over the course of the (April 13) attack," said Sidharth Kausha, a research fellow at the Royal United Strategic Institute in London.

He noted that some of the incoming targets, particularly drones, were shot down by allied aircraft before they reached Israel, "which limited its degree of exposure to some threat types, and there appears to have been sufficient early warning to enable preparation of a coalition response which means the system was better prepared than it might have been if exposed to a similar attack with less early warning."

(Writing by Andrew MacAskill and Dan Williams)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Tags: Iran , Israel , Middle East

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Review: Farewell Iran Air B747-SP Tehran to Mumbai

Iran Air B747-SP Tehran to Mumbai

April 1, 2016

Iran Air Flight IR810

B747-SP-86, EP-IAC

This was the last Boeing 747-SP in service in commercial airlines in the world.

This was my last time flying the Iran Air B747-SP.

This was my best B747-SP flight out of 10 flights I've flown!

She has been discontinued from service since mid June this year which is extremely disappointing as the Iranian Civil Aviation Orgranisation did not grant any extension sought by Iran Air. As a result of her discontinuation, Iran Air has temporarily suspended flight to the Far East (Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Mumbai) until they have received replacement airplanes.

I arrived Tehran IKA airport at 3am from Abu Dhabi on an Etihad A320 flight. My plan is to transit Tehran and flying onward to Mumbai in India.

Without an Iranian visa, I was in this small transit area for 2 hours before the agent can issue me a new boarding pass.

You do NOT need a transit visa or anything to transit in Tehran IKA.

The flight IR810 depart Tehran to Mumbai at 7:35am, boarding was called 30 minutes prior to departure time.

Passengers at boarding gate.

Here she is, always a lovely sight. Minutes before I board my last Boeing 747-SP flight!

We have a light load about 160 passengers so I have the whole rear section to me. A very friendly Iran Air flight attendant Nasr joined me for this souvenir photo!

Minutes later, Nasr came back and took me to the cockpit and showed me my new seat of the flight!!!

Today's flight is flown by Senior Captain Mehrabi and Captain Karimien, assisted by F/E Mr Sajidi.

We pushed back a few minutes early and flight time to Mumbai is just over 3 hours with some favorable tailwind.

Lining up on Runway 29L for departure after a short taxi.

Video of takeoff

As we are quite light, our B747-SP climbed directly to FL370 in one go!

I was rather privileged to have my breakfast in the cockpit behind the pilots.

My breakfast consisted of very good scramble eggs (very runny) bread and fruit.

Captain Karimien remembered me from a previous flight together in 2012, showing me the photo I took of him on his cell phone!

As many of you would know, the B747-SP fly faster and cruise higher than most conventional airliner.

We're cruising around Mach 0.86-0.87 during this flight.

After about half way into the flight, I went downstairs to the main cabin and observed her beautiful wing.

This photo is taken from the long galley between Door 1R and 2R.

We're flying over the Balochistan in Pakistani airspace at FL410.

With the lovely Iran Air crew, Nia.

With Nia and Nasr in the long galley of Boeing 747-SP.

Then I went to the main cabin to have a look. Most passengers were sleeping.

You must have noticed how wide the cabin is on the B747-SP!

The rear wing view.

The rear galley of Boeing 747-SP.

After a tour of the plane, I moved to the nose area which is Homa Class (Iran Air's Business Class).

Flight attendant Nia and Nasr saw me sitting down for a while and brought this full tray of food to me!

As a guest to Iran Air, they made sure you're well fed onboard!

After the hearty breakfast, we've started our descend for Mumbai. I went back upstairs and joined the pilots once again.

We were landing on the main runway of Mumbai at Runway 27. It was a smooth landing but little did I know that would be my last B747-SP landing.....I thought I would have more....

After landing, a final farewell picture together with the cockpit crew.

I went downstairs and before deplane, had a photo together with all the crew. It was such a great moment!

I can't express how much I have enjoyed flying on their B747 classics again and again!

It was such an exciting 3 hours flight. I was everywhere, from the back to the front, from the cockpit to the galley....Deep inside myself, I knew I was such an Aviation Geek. I love classics and get very excited flying classics, meeting different people and going exotic places!

Iranians are among the warmest people we have met and the kindest and most resourceful ones too. They don't have much but they gave me their best. Once they understood my passion, they were able to offer me the warmest welcome from their heart. Iran Air does exactly that to win my heart!

I am definitely saddened that this was probably my last B747-SP commercial flight....

As usual, I really appreciate any comments and feedback. Please share with me your B747-SP flight experiences by reply to the post below!

Sam’s Travel Hacks

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this article about the experience. I can only say that I too would relish the airline experiences that you share with us. Thank you.

While in Tehran, did you need visa to transfer? Anyways, nice story! I’ll miss the 747SP as well.

You do not need visa to transfer provided you have onward ticket and stay airside.

Thanks for posting this very interesting read. It proves that humans have the ability to be kind and sharing no matter where they are in the world.

Can you confirm what happened to the last 747-SP. was it scrapped or sent to a museum etc?

i’ve been travelling with IR since i was a kid because my mom worked for IR in KUL. My last flight with this incredible B747 SP was last year from IKA to KUL. We were struck by lightning few minutes after we took off but we managed to reached KUL safe n sound. I always have great memories flying with IR, the food was great, the crews were friendly too. I got a chance to be in the cockpit too. Enjoying nuts with the captain while we were up in the sky. Gotta miss this incredible beast. Cheers for your review Sam!!! Keep flying high!!!

Did you have a checked in baggage in IKA?

No I don’t have.

Sam, thank you so much for sharing your experience!!! I have enjoyed reading your experiences on here and this flight looked amazing!

It’s so endearing to read this trip report! Like you said, passion and kindness are the most important in service. Even without a world leading product, I would have loved the flight as well. Great story and keep traveling Sam!

thanks for your comments Kyle!

Inheriting every page since I do receive your newsletter for the 1st time a few weeks ago (thank you very much indeed therefor!), fond memories came back to me, because my one and only 747SP flight was on IRAN AIR’s 747SP EP-IAB from LHR to JFK on July 1st, 1976. EP-IAB was brand new then (I think she was delivered to IR during May 1976), and it was one of the most remarkable flights of my life ever. Im am “vintage” 1953 and did not fly much then, so travelling in an exotic plane like the rare 747SP and wondering if maybe the Shah of Iran was already on board of the same plane a short while before me was really thrilling. Iran Air Ticket, Boarding Pass, and other souvenirs from this flight are still around – somewhere in the attic, because in the passed 40 years I changed appartment three times…

Well, it was most mouthwatering to be onboard of the sightseeing IR 747SP flight in November 2014, but every bank in my reach here in Switzerland did not see any possibility to make the necessary payment to the Iranian (if I remember correctly) travel agency for this adventure.

So now, as you are writing about another 747SP farewell flight THR-THR fot this autumn, I fear that my attendance could again be prevented by the hurdles for payment.

I would highly appreciate occasionally any information from you or your team about this payment difficulty topic 🙂

Thank you for taking time reading my words about a commercial aviation marvel like the 747SP.

Best regards from Ralph

thanks for sharing with me your incredible story on Iran Air SP 40 years ago!

Did Iran Air ever fly to the USA? If so where did they fly too?

Yes they did fly to the USA in the 1980’s for sure as I sub loaded JFK to Paris on them several times. Both B747-200 and B747SP were used. I remember many of the cabin crew were Irish !

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The Latest | World leaders call on Iran and Israel to avoid allowing conflict to worsen

APTOPIX Iran Mideast Tensions Iranian worshippers chant slogans during an anti-Israeli gathering after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 19, 2024. An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) (Vahid Salemi/AP)

World leaders called on Iran and Israel to try to avoid escalating tensions following the apparent Israeli airstrike on Friday near an Iranian air base and nuclear facility.

Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Italy warned of new sanctions against Iran for its drone and missile attack on Israel last weekend, and urged both sides to avoid worsening the conflict.

Meanwhile, an apparent Israeli strike on Iran saw troops fire air defenses near the central city of Isfahan. It came days after Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel.

Israel also carried out a missile strike on an air defense unit in southern Syria, causing material damage, Syria's state-run SANA news agency said, citing a military statement.

Israel had vowed to respond to Iran's weekend attack.

Regional tensions have increased since the start of the latest Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, when Hamas and Islamic Jihad — two militant groups backed by Iran — carried out a cross-border attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. Israel responded with an offensive in Gaza that has caused widespread devastation and killed more than 33,900 people, according to local health officials .

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Here is the latest:

BAGHDAD — An airstrike early Saturday hit a base used by the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias in Iraq, the group said in a statement.

The attack on the Kalsu military base north of Babylon — a former U.S. post that was handed over to the Iraqi military in 2011 — wounded three PMF members, said two militia officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

It was not clear who was responsible for the purported attack, which came a day after a suspected Israeli strike in Iran, but the militia officials blamed U.S. forces.

A U.S. official said there were no U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that were not public.

The PMF is a coalition of primarily Shiite, Iran-backed armed groups that joined in the fight against the Islamic State extemist group after it seized large sections of Iraq in 2014. In 2016, the Iraqi government designated the Popular Mobilization Forces as an “independent military formation” within the Iraqi armed forces.

In recent months, some PMF member groups staged attacks on U.S. forces based in Iraq and Syria, which they said was in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel in its war with the Hamas militant group in Gaza.

JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says it is investigating the deaths of two Palestinian detainees who were arrested by Israeli soldiers in Gaza.

According to Israeli media reports, the detainees died while on the back of a truck bringing a group of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip.

In response to the reports, the military said its military police unit is investigating. The results of the investigation will be given to the military advocate general, who will decide whether to prosecute the soldiers involved. Rights groups say such investigations rarely result in charges or punishment.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Israel has rounded up thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and brought them to Israeli prisons, where they are interrogated about militant affiliations. Returning detainees say they were beaten, neglected and otherwise abused while in Israeli custody.

The Palestinian Prisoners Club, an advocacy group representing the prisoners, says 16 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli prisons since the start of the war.

Leaders from around the Mideast and the world called on Iran and Israel to try to avoid escalating tensions following the apparent Israeli strike near an Iranian air base and nuclear facility.

Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Italy urged both countries to show restraint, with the host nation’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, saying the meeting’s agenda was changed Friday to address the latest Mideast developments and that the “political objective is de-escalation.”

Tajani also said the G7 ministers condemned Iran’s weekend attack on Israel.

Jordan’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Ayman Al-Safadi, stressed the need to ease regional tensions. He also reiterated that Jordan, which is situated between Iran and Israel, will not allow itself to be “turned into an arena of conflict between Iran and Israel,” according to a statement issued by Jordan’s Foreign Ministry.

In a call with Iran’s foreign minister, Hussein Amir Abdullahian, after Friday’s strike, Al-Safadi stressed that Jordan will not allow Iran or Israel to violate Jordan’s airspace, according to the statement, which noted that Abdullahian said his country respects Jordan and wants to ensure the security of the region.

Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister of Iran-ally Russia, told several Russian radio stations Friday that Moscow informed Israel that Iran isn’t seeking to escalate the conflict. He said Russian leaders were in contact with their Iranian counterparts as well as with the Israelis.

“We very clearly outlined in these conversations and conveyed to the Israelis that Iran does not want escalation,” Lavrov said after news broke of the strike on Iran.

Iran couldn't "not respond to a gross violation of international law and status of a diplomatic mission, but it doesn't want escalation," Lavrov added, referring to the apparent Israeli airstrike that killed two Iranian generals in Syria on April 1.

The leaders of Britain, Germany and the European Commission, and China’s foreign ministry also called for Iran and Israel to avoid worsening the conflict.

“We have condemned Iran’s reckless and dangerous barrage of missiles against Israel ... and Israel absolutely has the right to self defense,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. “But as I said to (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu when I spoke to him last week, and more generally, significant escalation is not in anyone’s interest. What we want to see is calm heads prevail across the region.”

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- An Israeli military raid Friday on a refugee camp in the northern West Bank killed at least four Palestinians, including three militants, according to the Israeli military, Palestinian health officials and a militant group.

The raid took place in the Nur Shams urban camp, which is in an area of the occupied West Bank where the military frequently operates.

Palestinian health officials said a 16-year-old boy, Qaid Fathi Nasrallah, was shot dead by Israeli fire. The Islamic Jihad militant group also confirmed the deaths of three members, including Mohammed Jaber, who it said was its military commander in the area.

The Israeli military said its forces killed a number of militants, made arrests and found explosives there. Four Israeli soldiers were slightly wounded, it said.

Violence has flared in the West Bank since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel. More than 460 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, Palestinian health officials say, as Israel stages frequent raids into towns and cities in the volatile territory.

The dead have included militants, but also stone-throwers and bystanders. Some have also been killed by violence from Israeli settlers.

WASHINGTON — The reported strikes Friday near an Iranian air base and Iran-backed targets in Syria and Iraq appear to show a limited response to Iran's attack on Israel last weekend, according to a pro-Israel think tank based in Washington.

The apparent Israeli drone attack near a major air base and a nuclear site around the central Iranian city of Isfahan activated the country's air defenses, just days after Tehran launched a drone and missile assault on Israel.

No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel had attacked, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.

But analysts said the relatively limited scope of the Israeli attack and subdued response by Tehran seem to indicate the threat of an immediate escalation had diminished.

The pro-Israel Jewish Institute for National Security of America, based in Washington, said that in addition to showing that Israel doesn't appear to want to escalate tensions, the strikes seem intended to signal that Iran can't attack Israel with impunity.

“Since Isfahan lies in the center of Iran and hosts both a military base and a nuclear site, the Israeli strike also demonstrated Israel’s ability to penetrate Iranian air defenses and reach key Iranian assets, should it decide to launch a larger strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities,” the group said in a statement.

BERLIN — The head of the U.N. atomic watchdog says there was no damage at the Isfahan nuclear facility after an apparent Israeli drone attack on a major air base near the Iranian city.

When asked about the nuclear facility on Sky News, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said “there hasn’t been any damage at the site or anything that would indicate that (there) were hits nearby or something that could lead you to believe that there was an intention to reach these places.”

The facility at Isfahan operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, as well as handling fuel production and other activities for Iran’s civilian nuclear program.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.

Iranian authorities have said that air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

BAGHDAD — Remnants of a missile were found Friday near Latifiya, southwest of Baghdad.

An official with an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to journalists, said the missile had been shot down as a result of jamming operations. The Iraqi army doesn't have jamming devices of the type apparently used to down the missile, but Iran has provided such devices to its affiliated militias.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the missile was part of an Israeli attack on Iran or part of last weekend's Iranian attack on Israel. In photographs from the scene published by local media, it appeared to be a air-to-surface missile. There were no reports of Iran using air-to-surface missiles in Saturday’s barrage, which included more than 300 drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

Tehran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike in Syria on April 1 that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building.

— By Qassim Abdul-Zahra.

Israel’s long-term credit rating is being downgraded by S&P, which cited the risk of military escalation with Iran. It is the second major U.S. credit ratings agency to do so.

There was an apparent drone attack at a major air base and a nuclear site near the central city of Isfahan early Friday, which is suspected of being part of an Israeli retaliation for Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country days ago.

S&P’s downgrade was issued shortly before the strike in Iran and almost three months after Moody’s, another major U.S. credit agency, downgraded Israel’s rating due to the “ongoing military conflict with Hamas.”

S&P Global Ratings lowered its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Israel to ‘A+’ from ‘AA-’ and the short-term ratings to ‘A-1’ from ‘A-1+.’

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that statements issued by Iran and Israel after an apparent drone attack on Friday in Iran are “illogical.”

Erdogan, who is highly critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, also criticized the U.S. for continuing to support Israel in the U.N. Security Council as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran.

Erdogan told journalists that neither Iran nor Israel is taking “ownership” of the situation.

“Currently Israel is saying different things. Iran puts forward different views. There is no ownership (of the situation). There is not one statement that isn’t illogical,” he said.

Erdogan accused the U.S. of making conflicting statements about having prior knowledge of the drone strikes. He also reiterated that he would host Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday. When asked what would be on their agenda, Erdogan refused to give details.

CAPRI, Italy — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday the United States was not involved in any “offensive operations” in the apparent Israeli drone attack in Iran, but declined to respond to claims that Israel gave the U.S. advance notice of the action.

“I’m not going to speak to that except to say that the United States has not been involved in any offensive operations,” Blinken said.

Asked to describe the current U.S.-Israel relationship, Blinken noted that Israel makes its own decisions, but the United States is committed to its security.

“We are committed to helping Israel defend itself and as necessary participating in its defense, as you saw just a few days ago,” Blinken said. “Again, Israel makes its decisions, but we have a commitment to defending it.

"And you saw an unprecedented attack from Iran, and Israel and the United States and others worked with Israel to make sure that that attack would not have devastating consequences. And thankfully, it did not.”

CAPRI, Italy — The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received “last minute” information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, Italy’s foreign minister said.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the United States provided the information at a Friday morning session that was changed at the last minute to address the apparent attack. Tajani said the U.S. informed the G7 ministers that it had been “informed at the last minute” by Israel about the drones. “But there was no sharing of the attack by the U.S. It was a mere information.”

He said Italians living in Iran were all accounted for and “without problems.”

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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Israel, Iran play down apparent Israeli strike. The muted responses could calm tensions -- for now

Israel and Iran are both playing down an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran

JERUSALEM -- Israel and Iran on Friday both played down an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran, signaling the two bitter enemies are ready to prevent their latest eruption of violence from escalating into a full-blown regional war.

But the indecisive outcome of weeks of tensions — which included an alleged Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals, an unprecedented Iranian missile barrage on Israel and the apparent Israeli strike early Friday in the heart of Iran — did little to resolve the deeper grievances between the foes and left the door open to further fighting.

“It appears we’re closer than ever to a broad regional war, despite the fact that the international community will most likely make a great effort to de-escalate tensions,” wrote Amos Harel, the military-affairs commentator for the Israeli daily Haaretz.

Israel has long considered Iran to be its greatest enemy — citing the Islamic Republic’s calls for Israel’s destruction, its controversial nuclear program and its support for hostile proxies across the Middle East.

These tensions have risen since Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Iranian-backed Palestinian groups, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, sparking a devastating Israeli offensive in Gaza that has continued for more than six months. Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed proxy in Lebanon, immediately began striking Israeli targets, opening up tit-for-tat fighting along a second front, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have also fired missiles and drones at Israel throughout the war.

While Israel and Iran have waged a shadow war for years, mostly in neighboring Syria, they have largely avoided direct confrontations. That changed after an April 1 airstrike killed two Iranian generals at an Iranian diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Although Israel did not comment, Iran blamed Israel for the strike and vowed revenge.

Iran responded with its first-ever direct attack on Israel, launching over 300 missiles and attack drones late Saturday night. Israel, working with a U.S.-led international coalition, said it intercepted 99% of the incoming fire, though a handful of missiles managed to land, causing minor damage to an Israeli military base and seriously wounding a young girl.

In Friday’s attack, Iranian state television said that air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones in the air. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects.

“The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said.

Authorities said air defenses fired at a major air base near Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks. The apparent attack Friday came on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s 85th birthday.

State television described all Iranian atomic sites in the areas as “fully safe.” The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said there was “no damage” to Iran’s nuclear sites.

Iranian officials made no mention of possible Israeli involvement. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to respond to any Israeli retaliatory attack.

Israel also had no comment on the apparent attack, though one hard-line government minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, hinted at his dissatisfaction, with a one-word tweet early Friday, using a slang word for weak or lame.

But Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said at a summit of Western leaders in Capri that the U.S. received “last-minute” information from Israel about the attack. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not dispute that, but said: “We were not involved in any offensive operations.”

Yoel Guzansky, a former Iran expert in the Israeli prime minister’s office, said Israel appears to have carried out the attack to “check off a box” by sending a message to Iran without doing anything too provocative that could upset the United States, which had urged restraint, or spark further Iranian retaliation.

“It seems very limited, to send a message that ‘we can strike you inside of Iran,’” said Guzansky a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think tank.

He said “the current round” of violence appears to be over, but that “nothing has changed” with Israel still facing Iranian-backed threats on various fronts.

“I see further rounds,” he said. And the next time, if Iran surprises Israel or allies don’t assist in Israel’s defense, “the outcome will be different.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the strikes.

“It is high time to stop the dangerous cycle of retaliation in the Middle East,” his office said.

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute and a longtime regional analyst, challenged Iran’s claims that drones carried out the attacks. It appears instead that a small number of Israeli aircraft flew from Israel over Syria — striking at least two southern Syria military bases that have air defense systems along the way, he said.

They then entered Iraqi airspace, from where they fired a small number of Blue Sparrow air-to-surface ballistic missiles, likely without ever entering Iranian airspace, Lister said.

Accounts of explosions over Iraq support that scenario, and so does debris from what appears to be the booster of an Israeli-made Blue Sparrow missile that Iraqi security found in a field outside Baghdad, Lister said.

“In other words, the Israelis would never have needed to enter Iranian airspace to conduct this attack,” Lister said. "I think this was Israel’s way of just sending a message that we can reach you anywhere we want.”

If this latest round subsides, Israel can now return its focus to its ongoing war in Gaza and the simmering fighting with Hezbollah. With neither of those fronts letting up, the risk of further run-ins with Iran remains high, though neither side appears eager after Friday's apparent Israeli attack.

“Neither side is ready to jump over the brink," said Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute. But he added a major caveat.

“Probably we’re going to go back to the proxy war, “ he said, but now it’s a proxy war with the risk of “that sudden eruption of state-to-state war. Which we didn’t have to worry about before.”

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press journalists Nasser Karimi, Mehdi Fattahi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Nicole Winfield in Capri, Italy; contributed to this report.

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Iran fires air defenses after spotting drones as reports of attack from Israel swirl

Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran’s  unprecedented drone-and-missile assault  on the country.

No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel attacked, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. However,  tensions  have been high since  the Saturday assault  on Israel amid its war on  Hamas in the Gaza Strip  and its own strikes  targeting Iran  in Syria.

U.S. officials declined to comment as of early Friday, but American broadcast networks quoting unnamed U.S. officials said Israel carried out the attack. The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials claiming the assault, which came on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s 85th birthday. Israeli politicians also made comments hinting that the country had launched an attack.

Air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects.

“The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said. Others suggested the drones may be so-called quadcopters — four rotor, small drones that are commercially available.

Authorities said air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Tasnim also published a video from one of its reporters, who said he was in the southeastern Zerdenjan area of Isfahan, near its “nuclear energy mountain.” The footage showed two different anti-aircraft gun positions, and details of the video corresponded with known features of the site of Iran’s Uranium Conversion Facility at Isfahan.

“At 4:45, we heard gunshots. There was nothing going on,” he said. “It was the air defense, these guys that you’re watching, and over there too.”

The facility at Isfahan operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, as well as handling fuel production and other activities for Iran’s civilian nuclear program.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.

State television described all atomic sites in the area as “fully safe.” The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said “there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” after the incident.

The IAEA “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts,” the agency said.

Iran’s nuclear program has rapidly advanced to producing enriched uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels since the collapse of its atomic deal with world powers after then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

While Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, Western nations and the IAEA say Tehran operated a secret military weapons program until 2003. The  IAEA has warned  that Iran now holds enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so — though the U.S. intelligence community maintains Tehran is not actively seeking the bomb.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

Iran then grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Iran later restored normal flight service, authorities said.

Around the time of the incident in Iran, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement saying Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.

That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away, and east of Israel.

Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.

The incident Friday in Iran also sparked concerns about the conflict again escalating across the seas of the Middle East, which have been seeing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen on shipping over the war in Gaza.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center warned ships in the region that they could see increased drone activity in the skies.

“There are currently no indications commercial vessels are the intended target,” it wrote.

The Houthis have  launched at least 53 attacks  on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and as shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined over the threat.

However, Iranian state-run media sought to downplay the incident after the fact, airing footage of an otherwise-peaceful Isfahan morning. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to retaliate for any Israeli retaliatory attack on the nation.

“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.

Associated Press journalists Nasser Karimi, Mehdi Fattahi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.

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Israel Launched Missiles as Well as Drones at Iran, Officials Say

Though it was not immediately clear if the missiles struck targets inside Iran, their use would mean more sophisticated firepower was involved in the attack than first reported.

• Share full article

By Farnaz Fassihi and Eric Schmitt

• April 19, 2024

Israeli warplanes fired missiles on Iran during a retaliatory strike early Friday morning, one Western official and two Iranian officials said, suggesting that the attack included more advanced firepower than initial reports indicated.

It was not immediately clear the types of missiles used, from where they were fired, whether any were intercepted by Iran’s defenses or where they landed.

The Western official and the Iranian officials requested anonymity to discuss classified information.

Previously, Iranian officials said Friday’s attack on a military base in central Iran was conducted by small aerial drones, most likely launched from inside Iranian territory. A separate group of small drones, they said soon after the attack, was shot down in the region of Tabriz, roughly 500 miles north of Isfahan.

Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack and would not comment on the use of planes or missiles.

Israel’s strike came in response to an Iranian attack last weekend in which Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. A majority of the weapons used in that salvo were fired from Iranian territory and intercepted by Israel and its allies before causing any damage.

By contrast, the Iranian officials said, Iran’s military did not detect anything entering Iran’s airspace on Friday, including drones, missiles and aircraft. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that no missile attacks occurred and that Iran’s air defense system was not activated.

Iran’s decision to launch its strike primarily from its own soil last week was perceived by Israel as an escalation in the countries’ long-simmering shadow war. The Iranians believe the large salvo is helping with deterrence. Throughout the yearslong conflict, the two countries have traded clandestine attacks, including targeted assassinations, cyberattacks and conventional strikes conducted from and within third countries.

Iran’s attack last week was itself prompted by an Israeli strike on April 1, in which Israeli aircraft killed several Iranian armed forces commanders in Syria.

By using drones seemingly launched from inside Iran’s territory rather than its own, Israel hinted at a willingness to turn down the temperature on the conflict while also demonstrating an ability to conduct attacks that Iran could not detect.

One Iranian official, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said that even though the strike did little damage, the likelihood that drones were fired from under Iran’s nose sent a message about Israel’s capabilities.

A guided missile fired from an undetected warplane, even if it landed outside Iranian territory, would most likely deliver a similar threat.

Officials from both countries remained largely quiet about Friday’s attack, a gesture that appeared aimed at de-escalating a conflict some fear could spiral into a broader regional war. Israel’s silence on the attack, an Iranian official said, would allow Tehran to treat the strike as it had comparable previous attacks and not prompt an immediate response.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iran’s Parliament speaker, said that Israel’s limited attack on Iran showed that Iran had achieved its goal of deterrence. Israel’s refusal to openly claim responsibility, he said, amounts to a victory for Iran.

Israel’s attack, he said on the messaging app Telegram, was meant to show that it had the “capability to access Iran but in practice it also showed that it has accepted that it should not repeat its miscalculation.”

Farnaz Fassihi is the United Nations bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the organization, and also covers Iran and the shadow war between Iran and Israel. She is based in New York. More about Farnaz Fassihi

Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times, focusing on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism issues overseas, topics he has reported on for more than three decades. More about Eric Schmitt

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Middle East latest: 'Unknown airstrike' on Iraqi military base; Iranian minister downplays Israeli attack

Injuries and "material losses" have been reported after a large explosion at a military base in Iraq. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister dismissed the apparent Israeli attack as ineffective in an interview with Sky News' US partner NBC News.

Saturday 20 April 2024 10:06, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Airstrike on Iraqi base from 'unknown source'
• Iraqi security force claims explosion was result of attack
• Iranian minister compares 'drones' in attack to 'children's toys'
• What we know so far about Israel's apparent attack on Iran
• Iran has 'no plan for immediate retaliation'
• Analysis:  This strike has escalation written all over it
• Analysis: Iran isn't biggest threat to the coalition right now
• Live reporting by Narbeh Minassian

Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces has said the explosion at its Kalsu base was the result of an attack.

It's not yet clear who the group may believe was behind the alleged attack.

The US has already denied any role in the incident.

Details remain unclear around the explosion at the Iraqi military base, which houses a group sponsored by Iran.

The blast at the Kalsu base, which killed one member of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces, is under investigation.

Speaking from Tel Aviv, Sky's international correspondent Alex Rossi noted it is "interesting" the US has already denied any responsibility.

The blast comes one day on from an attack on Iran - widely believed to be from Israel.

"I think what it really speaks to is the fact that although the direct confrontation that we've seen in this phase between Iran and Israel may be over, there are still significant tensions in the region," Rossi said.

"In terms of that direct confrontation, I think the indications we're getting from both sides is that they don't want this to escalate anymore and that's reflected in the language that they are using."

There are still "significant flashpoints", he added, with daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah and the ongoing offensive in Gaza.

But it is unclear if the incident in Iraq is related to a so-called shadow war between Iran and Israel.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry reports 34,049 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since 7 October, with 76,901 wounded.

The new figures come as the health ministry claims 37 Palestinians have been killed and 68 injured in the past 24 hours.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its reports, but says most of those killed are women and children.

The Israel Defence Forces has said it "attacked targets" overnight in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza.

In a post on X, the IDF claims it initiated the attack after a "launch" crossed from Beit Hanoun towards the city of Sderot in southern Israel.

That attack, it says, was intercepted.

Over the past day, the IDF says its air force has attacked "dozens" of targets, including "armed terrorists, military infrastructures and military buildings".

One member of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces has been killed and eight wounded during the overnight explosion at its Kalsu base, according to a military statement.

As we reported earlier (see 7.32am post), the cause of the blast at the facility is still unconfirmed, although sources have claimed it came from an unknown airstrike.

The military says there were no drones or fighter jets detected in the air space around the area before or during the blast.

A committee has been formed to investigate what happened.

In a world-first interview, a senior Hezbollah figure has told us violence will not stop until the war in Gaza ends.

Ibrahim Moussawi, a Hezbollah spokesperson, also warned Israel "will see results" if they continue provoking Iran.

And he said the responsibility for ending the war lies with the West.

"In order to reach an agreement, they have to stop the aggressor," he said.

"They have to stop Netanyahu and this bunch of idiots who are in the occupied Palestine to stop their genocidal war."

Hezbollah warns against provoking Iran

He added they do not want to see a "comprehensive confrontation" but "if it is imposed, they see and we will see the kind of results that will unfold".

He also played down the strikes against Iran yesterday, claiming he has "never heard of such a thing" and he had "heard it in the news".

"My understanding is that the Israelis, up till now, they want to save their face," he said.

For the full story, read the article below...

Iran's foreign minister has questioned if Israel was behind Friday's attack on the country.

Iran said its air defences destroyed three drones and reported no damage or casualties - though Sky's military analyst Michael Clarke said Israel almost certainly used ballistic missiles, rather than drones.

Speaking to our US partner network NBC News, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian claimed drones took off from within Iran and only flew a few hundred metres before being shot down.

The foreign minister added they were "more like toys that our children play with" than a serious threat, as he sought to play down the threat.

Israel hasn't commented but is widely believed to be behind the strike targeting an airbase and nuclear site near Isfahan.

"It has not been proved to us that there is a connection between these and Israel," Mr Amir-Abdollahian added.

Read the full story here...

A blast at an Iraqi military base came from an airstrike from an unknown source, two security sources have told Reuters news agency.

Injuries and "material losses" have been reported after the explosion at the Kalsu facility in the city of Babylon, which is about 30 miles (50km) south of the capital Baghdad.

A US official said it wasn't caused by American military operations.

The base is used by Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an umbrella group of dozens of armed groups, and is home to its chief of staff.

One PMF fighter was killed and six were wounded, according to sources at the nearby hospital in Hilla.

Video appears to show explosion

The group did not confirm any deaths in its initial statement, adding: "An explosion occurred at the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces at the Kalsu military base in the al Mashrou district on the highway, north of Babil Governorate.

"An investigation team immediately arrived at the scene, and the explosion caused material losses and injuries. 

"We will provide you with the details once the preliminary investigation is completed."

Factions within the PMF took part in rocket and drone attacks on US forces in Iraq in the early months of Israel's Gaza offensive.

However, the group stopped the attacks in early February.

Welcome to our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and wider tensions in the Middle East. 

Today we'll be watching for further reaction to an apparent Israeli attack on Iran in the early hours of Friday. 

Both sides appeared to downplay the strike, with Iran initially saying it was an "infiltration" rather than an attack. 

It also claimed drones had been used - although our military analyst Professor Michael Clarke said it was almost certain ballistic missiles were used. 

He explained both sides are trying to "save face", with neither wanting an escalation. 

Comments from Iranian officials in the aftermath suggest Tehran is unlikely to retaliate. 

Overnight, an explosion was reported at an Iraqi military base, with the cause still unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, the US has remained tight-lipped on the matter - something that raised questions over whether this is part of a de-escalation strategy. 

Before we bring you today's news, here are more updates from the last 24 hours: 

• A man was arrested at the Iranian consulate in Paris after threatening to blow himself up - although it was later discovered he was not carrying any explosives 
• Worshippers in Iran's capital chanted "death to Israel" after Friday prayers, in a demonstration hours after the apparent Israeli strike
• The Met Police issued an apology after two of its officers were criticised for threatening to arrest a Jewish man near a pro-Palestinian march 
• Airlines changed their flight paths, cancelled flights and diverted others to alternate airports following Israel's attack on Iran
• Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to criticise a double standard from Western allies, saying Israel was not left to fend for itself when attacked. 

An Israeli retired major general has said he doesn't believe Israel's overnight attack on Iran is a "very significant event". 

Major General Giora Eiland, the former head of the Israeli National Security Council, said the strike showed Israel can reach "even sensitive places" but it had tried to "do it way that both sides can be satisfied". 

He told Sky's World with Yalda Hakim programme that he doesn't "predict real escalation after this". 

Asked whether Israel's message had been received in Iran, he said countries will try to emphasise their success and minimise the success of the other side. 

He added that in attacking Israel, Iran had created an international coalition against itself - "something they certainly don't want to see". 

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Middle East crisis — explained

The conflict between Israel and Palestinians — and other groups in the Middle East — goes back decades. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.

Israel launches missile strikes into Iran, U.S. military official says

Rob Schmitz

Peter Kenyon

Demonstrators wave a huge Iranian flag in an anti-Israeli gathering in front of an anti-Israeli banner on the wall of a building at the Felestin (Palestine) Square in Tehran, Iran, on Monday. Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption

Demonstrators wave a huge Iranian flag in an anti-Israeli gathering in front of an anti-Israeli banner on the wall of a building at the Felestin (Palestine) Square in Tehran, Iran, on Monday.

The Israeli military has conducted missile strikes against Iran, a senior U.S. military official told NPR on Thursday. There are also reports of explosions in Iraq and Syria.

The strikes appear to be the response Israel vowed to carry out after an Iranian attack on Sunday, when Tehran fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel. Most of Iran's volleys were intercepted or caused little damage. The U.S. military official spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday.

The extent of Israel's strikes and the weapons used weren't clear.

Iran state news agency IRNA reported a military official in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, Brigadier General Mihan Dost, as saying loud sounds heard east of the city were the sound of air defenses intercepting what he called a "suspicious target" and that no damage was reported in the area.

What we know so far about Israel's strike on Iran — and what could happen next

Other Iranian news agencies had not reported any such strike and have concluded the sounds reported near Isfahan were the interception of one or more drones.

Israel's military and prime minister's office have not yet responded to NPR's request for comment.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed on social media that there is no damage to Iran's nuclear sites.

Meanwhile, Israel's hardline National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that Israel's latest apparent strike against Iran was "weak" and too limited.

Commercial flights continue in and out of Israel, and the country's Home Front Command system, which is responsible for issuing threat alerts to civilians during tense military times, didn't change its threat level.

In Iran, flights were temporarily grounded in the morning, but resumed just a couple of hours later.

The U.S. and other western allies had been urging Israel to forego a military strike to avoid a regional conflict springing out of the Israel-Hamas war .

Those concerns rose when an air strike – which Iran blamed on Israel – killed two Iranian military commanders in the country's consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1.

How Iran and Israel became archenemies

Iran said Sunday's attack on Israel was in response to that.

The region has been on the edge of wider conflict since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 240 others hostage, according to Israel. Israel's military campaign in response in Gaza has killed more than 33,000 people, according to Gaza health officials.

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have traded frequent fire over the northern Israel border. Houthi militants, also backed by Iran, have been going after international commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea in recent months. The group's leaders claim they're targeting ships with links to Israel in response to the country's ongoing invasion of Gaza.