Our foreign affairs and national security correspondent, Matthew Knott, has filed this latest update on the unfolding situation in Iran.
Iran activated its air defence batteries across several provinces after an apparent Israeli strike on Friday, prompting fears of an escalating conflict among two of the Middle East’s biggest military powers.
Explosions were heard near a major air base and nuclear research site in central Iran.
As global airlines scrambled to re-route passenger flights following the reported explosions, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) responded by warning Australians against travelling to Israel and the Palestinian territories because of the risk of further attacks.
Iranian state television reported that three drones were brought down on Friday over Isfahan in central Iran, home to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft and sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian state TV said that at “around 12.30am GMT [10.30am Australian time] three drones were observed in the sky over Isfahan. The air defence system became active and destroyed these drones in the sky.”
Iranian nuclear sites were undamaged, Iranian state media reported while also denying reports that Israel had launched a missile strike against Iran.
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