SAT Desk
Israel has launched a strike against Iran in retaliation for its weekend attack, US media reported Thursday night.
ABC and CBS News reported the strikes early Friday Mideast time, quoting US officials. There was no immediate comment from the White House or Pentagon, reports AFP.
Iran activated its air defense system over several cities, state media reported, after the country's official broadcaster said explosions were heard near the central city of Isfahan.
Israel had warned it would hit back after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel over the weekend. Most of them were intercepted.
That strike came in the wake of an attack on Iran's consulate in Damascus widely blamed on Israel.
Meanwhile,
US and UK impose new sanctions against Iran
The US and UK have imposed a new wave of sanctions against Iran, following its drone attack on Israel.
Washington targeted 16 people and two entities that produce engines for the drones. The UK Foreign Office imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on seven individuals and six entities, including those involved in drone and missile programmes.
Both countries already have hundreds of sanctions in place against Iran.
The latest move follows Israel's call for support from the international community after Iran's direct assault on Saturday, involving more than 300 missiles and drones fired from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Almost all were downed by Israel and its allies.
Tehran has maintained the attack was in retaliation for a presumed Israeli air strike on its consulate in Syria on 1 April, in which 13 people were killed.
The US sanctions target Iran's drone programme, its steel producers and vehicle companies connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Ministry of Defence.
US President Joe Biden said leaders of the G7 group of leading world economies were committed to collectively increasing economic pressure on Iran.
"Our allies and partners have or will issue additional sanctions and measures to restrict Iran's destabilising military programmes," he said.
