Isfahan

A Pentagon official is being eyed by US authorities over the leak of documents that revealed scenarios Israel is considering for its attack response to Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed that they have launched a ground operation in southwestern Lebanon. In a statement, the Israeli military explained that these are "limited and targeted operations" aimed at increasing pressure on Hezbollah, the pro-Iranian Shiite group in Lebanon, which has fired numerous rockets at northern Israel.

It should be considered certain that Tuesday’s attack by Iran on Israel will not go unanswered. The question with the collapsing balance isn’t “if” but “when” and “how.”

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday called on Iran to adopt "concrete" measures to help bolster cooperation on the country's nuclear programme.

People visit the Si-o-Se Pol Bridge in Iran's central city of Isfahan on April 19, 2024. World leaders appealed for calm on April 19 after reported Israeli retaliation against Iran, added to months of tense spillover from the war in Gaza, with Iranian state media reporting explosions in the central province of Isfahan.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, centre, is surrounded by Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron, left, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa , high, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani as they attend an Indo-Pacific meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting on Capri Island, Italy, Friday, April 19, 2024.

Oil prices rallied and equities sank on April 19 as reports said explosions had been heard in Iran and Syria, fuelling fears of an escalation of the Middle East crisis after last weekend's missile attack on Israel by Tehran.

Traders have been on edge since last week's barrage by Iran, which Israel's army chief General Herzi Halevi warned would be met with a response.

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the Bulgarian government is closely monitoring the situation and stands prepared for the potential evacuation of Bulgarian citizens, announced the Council of Ministers.

Israel launched a series of attacks with drones targeting multiple sites in Iran, triggering explosions and raising alarms across the region. ABC television, citing a US official, that a site was struck in Iran, while Iranian state media confirmed an explosion in the central part of the country.

Base in Isfahan hit according to US media – Iran’s airspace cleared