Drones were used to attack a military facility in Iran, with Iranian news outlets reporting a loud explosion and showing a flash of light at an alleged munitions factory.
Emergency vehicles and fire engines were on display at the plant in the central province of Isfahan. It comes amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program as well as Russia’s supply of Shahed drones used in the war against Ukraine.
According to some reports, several facilities in Iran were hit within a few hours. The Guardian could not confirm these reports, but Iran’s IRNA news agency reported a fire at an oil refinery in the northern city of Tabriz and said one person had been injured. It was not said what caused the fire or if it was related to the Isfahan incident.
Iran’s Defense Ministry claimed the drone strike was “unsuccessful,” with one drone shot down by air defenses and two blown up when they were “caught in defense traps.” There was “small damage to property on the roof of the workshop”.
Deputy governor of Isfahan province Mohammad Reza Jan-Nesari said on TV there were “no casualties” in the attack there, adding that “the cause of the incident is under investigation”.
Authorities did not elaborate on the activities at the destination north of the city of Isfahan.
Iran has several known nuclear research sites in the region, including a uranium conversion facility.
In recent years there have been a number of explosions and fires near Iran’s military, nuclear and industrial facilities.
In July, Iran said it had arrested a sabotage team composed of Kurdish militants working for Israel who were planning to blow up a “sensitive” defense industrial center in Isfahan.
Israel has long threatened military action against Iran if indirect talks between Washington and Tehran fail to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal. Israel says Iran aims to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this.
With Portal