Israel has taken responsibility for a series of overnight airstrikes targeting key missile storage sites and infrastructure within Iran, including a reported strike near the Isfahan nuclear facility, one of Iran’s most significant atomic research centers.
Citing Iran’s Fars News Agency, Qatari outlet Al Jazeera reported that loud explosions were heard in various parts of Isfahan early Friday morning, triggering the city’s air defense systems. The Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, a major hub for Iran’s nuclear research, is situated in the affected region.
Read more: Iran-Israel Tensions Flare as Missile Strikes Continue, Ceasefire Talks Stumble
A deputy governor of Isfahan province confirmed that several cities — including Isfahan, Linjan, Mubarakeh, and Shahreza — were struck in what he described as “aerial attacks.” He noted that although the nuclear facility was targeted, no dangerous materials were released as a result.
Iranian state media, Press TV, also claimed that Iranian forces shot down an Israeli drone flying over the city of Kashan, located in central Iran.
The Israeli military issued a rare public statement, acknowledging the strikes and describing them as efforts to weaken Iran’s missile program and storage infrastructure. However, officials declined to directly address claims that the Isfahan nuclear site was among the targets.
Iranian authorities, meanwhile, asserted that their air defense systems effectively intercepted the drones, and confirmed that all critical nuclear facilities were unharmed and secure. According to Iranian officials, the attack did not compromise any sensitive materials or equipment.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has yet to issue a statement on the situation or verify the status of the Isfahan facility following the reported strikes.
This escalation comes shortly after Iran ruled out returning to nuclear talks, citing ongoing military aggression as a key reason for its refusal. Israel has long opposed any international arrangement that would allow Iran to maintain nuclear capabilities, despite Tehran’s insistence that its program is strictly for civilian use.
Amid rising tensions, hundreds of American citizens have reportedly left Iran over land routes in recent days. A leaked U.S. State Department cable, cited by Reuters, noted that although most of the departures were smooth, there were several reports of delays, harassment, and at least two brief detentions involving U.S. nationals.
In response to the deteriorating security environment, the U.S. State Department has also evacuated 79 staff members and their families from the U.S. embassy in Israel, as confirmed by a report from the Associated Press.
