Following a missile and drone barrage by Iran on Israel on Apr. 13, Israel launched a retaliatory strike against Iran on Apr. 19 morning (Singapore time).

U.S. officials confirm Israeli strikes on Iran

A United States (U.S.) official confirmed the strike, adding that the Israeli strike has hit a site in Iran, U.S. broadcaster ABC News reported.

Explosions were heard in the city of Qahjavaristan (Ghahjaworstan) in Isfahan, Iran, according to Iranian state media Press TV as reported by CNN.

Flights into Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz have been suspended following these reports.

Additionally, outgoing flights from several Iranian airports have also been cancelled, Press TV reported an Iranian official saying.

⚡️More AD activity over central Iran pic.twitter.com/DqA2LhGRdA

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) April 19, 2024

Isfahan is a strategically important province, home to several Iranian military bases and nuclear sites.

A U.S. official told CNN that Israel was not targeting nuclear sites.

CNN also quoted a senior U.S. official as saying that the U.S. had issued advance warning of the Israeli strike, but "did not endorse" it.

Explosions heard in Iran, Syria and Iraq: Iran state media

Iran's Tasnim News, a semi-official news agency associated with the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) cited a "reliable source" and reported that the nuclear facilities in Isfahan are "completely secure", CNN reported, adding that other Iranian media outlets are reporting the same.

Al Jazeera cited Iran’s official news agency IRNA and reported that some military sites in Syria have been struck where a series of explosions have been heard.

This includes the "Adra" and "Al-Thala" military airport, a radar battalion located between the city of "Adra" and the village of "Qarfa" in southern Syria.

Explosions have also been reportedly heard in Iraq in the al-Imam area of Babel.

⚡️The strikes on Syria seem to have targeted Al-Thalaa Airport in Suwayda and Izraa in Daraa pic.twitter.com/qHJTZvvIwa

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) April 19, 2024

Tit-for-tat

Israel's strikes on Apr. 19 were in retaliation for Iran's attack on Apr. 13, when it launched over 300 drones and missiles at targets throughout Israel.

The missiles were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the U.S., the United Kingdom (UK) and Jordan.

A seven-year-old girl was the only casualty of Iran's Apr. 13 attack.

She was critically injured after falling shrapnel from an intercepted missile struck her home.

Iran's attack on Apr. 13 was its first-ever direct attack on Israel.

It was in retaliation to a suspected Israeli strike that struck the Iranian embassy in Syria on Apr. 1, destroying the consulate building and killing at least seven officials, including two top commanders, Reuters reported.

Iran blamed Israel for the attack, while Israel did not claim responsibility.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN on Apr. 18 that Iran's response would be "immediate and at a maximum level" should Israel take any further military action after Apr. 13.

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