Dubai: Early on Friday, air defense systems were activated in Iran following reports of explosions around Isfahan, according to state news outlet IRNA.

The precise nature of the incident was not immediately clear. Nonetheless, heightened tensions persist in the region after Iran’s recent missile and drone offensive on Israel.

IRNA conveyed that the defense mechanisms were deployed across multiple provinces. It did not specify what provoked the response, though reports from local residents recounted hearing loud noises.

Semi-official agencies Fars and Tasnim mentioned auditory disturbances without providing further details. State television confirmed the occurrence of loud sounds in the vicinity.

Commercial flights altered their paths over western Iran without an immediate explanation on Friday. One semi-official news outlet in the Islamic Republic reported explosions heard above Isfahan. State television also acknowledged the loud sounds.

The situation unfolds amidst escalating tensions in the broader Middle East after Iran’s striking missile and drone assault on Israel. Emirates and FlyDubai, carriers based in Dubai, rerouted their flights around western Iran at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time. Though the specific reason was not provided, regional advisories hinted that the airspace might have been closed.

Fars news agency reported hearing explosions over Isfahan near its international airport but did not offer a detailed explanation. Isfahan serves as a significant military base for Iran, hosting facilities related to its nuclear program.

Iranian state television began displaying a continuous on-screen notice acknowledging a loud noise near Isfahan without providing additional information. The Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment.