Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 19, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 19, 2024
Iran state news agency says air defense batteries activated across several provinces
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran has fired air defense batteries after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reports.
It remains unclear if the country is under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel.
IRNA says the defenses fired across several provinces. It doesn’t elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area report hearing the sounds.
The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise” in the area.
