Explosions were reported on the outskirts of Teheran, the Iranian capital. According to the Iranian authorities, the “damage” is “limited”.

Resounding explosions rock the Iranian capital

During the night, Iranian state television reported “six powerful explosions” around Teheran, attributed to the activation of the air defense system. This counter-offensive follows Israeli strikes on Saturday October 26, which were described as “precise and targeted” against military infrastructures in Iran, including missile production facilities. Teheran, however, played down the effects of these strikes, mentioning “limited damage”.

These attacks come against a backdrop of high regional tensions, exacerbated by the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which is also spreading to Lebanon, where the Israeli army is battling Hezbollah. Both organizations are allies of Iran, and receive its military and financial support.

On October 1, Teheran launched some 200 missiles at Israel, some of them hypersonic, prompting a promise of Israeli retaliation. According to the Israeli army statement, these recent strikes targeted missile manufacturing sites and air defense batteries, calling the Iranian missiles an “immediate threat” to Israeli civilians.

“We are responding to those who are endangering the State of Israel and trying to aggravate regional tensions,” said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army. The first explosions were heard at around 2.15 a.m., mainly to the west of Teheran, accompanied by light trails visible from the center of the capital. In response, Iran suspended flights in its airspace, but asserted that no explosion or fire had affected its main refinery in Teheran.

Washington also reacted, calling the Israeli strikes “legitimate self-defense” and urging Iran to “cease its attacks to avoid further escalation”.
The Iranian missile strikes had been justified as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon at the end of September, in which an Iranian general and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah lost their lives. This cycle of confrontations is taking place in a context where Teheran is alternating threats and attempts at appeasement, trying to temper tension in the face of possible Israeli reprisals.