French national flags in front of the facade of the National Assembly in Paris. File
| Photo Credit: AFP

France said on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) it was sending additional military resources to the Middle East to tackle the Iranian threat and convened a United Nations (UN) Security Council (UNSC) meeting for later in the day after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel.

Iran said early on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) that its missile attack on Israel was finished barring further provocation, while Israel and the U.S. promised to retaliate against Tehran’s assault as fears of a wider war intensified.

“Committed to Israel’s security, France today mobilised its military resources in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat,” the French Presidency said in a statement overnight after an emergency security Cabinet meeting to discuss the regional escalation.

“The head of state also reiterated France’s demand that Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population.”

It gave no details on what additional military assets had been sent to the region and the Defence Ministry was not immediately available for comment. “Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke with his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken to coordinate diplomatic efforts,” the Ministry said.

Paris and Washington last week had attempted to secure a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon just hours before Israel launched air strikes that killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The Foreign Ministry said it had convened a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East on Wednesday (October 2, 2024) afternoon. The French Presidency said it would also organise soon a conference in support of Lebanon and had asked the Foreign Minister to travel to the region to work on diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

“Attentive to the security and protection of our compatriots in Lebanon and the Middle East, the head of state requested that all necessary measures be taken to assist them and, if necessary, come to their aid,” the Presidency added. France on Monday (September 30, 2024) deployed a helicopter carrier to the region to position itself in case an evacuation order was given.

The United Nations Security Council meets on the situation in the Middle East at the UN headquarters in New York City on April 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday, April 19, 2024 morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.

IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.

The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise” in the area.

Earlier, the commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation early Friday as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic reported “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged “loud noise.”

The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

The semiofficial Fars news agency reported on explosions being heard over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.

Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.