Explosion reported near northern Iranian industrial city after Israeli evacuation warning

ISTANBUL

An explosion was heard on the outskirts of Rasht, an industrial city in northern Iran, following an evacuation warning issued by the Israeli military, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported early Friday.

Flames are rising in the area, according to local media reports.

The reported blast came shortly after the Israeli army warned residents in the Sefid Rud industrial area located in the northern Iranian village of Kalashtar to evacuate due to an imminent strike on military infrastructure.

“Urgent warning: The Israeli army is expected to operate in your area, as it has in recent days across Iran, to strike military infrastructure,” the statement said. “Dear citizens, for your security and safety, we ask you to evacuate from the area marked on the map. Your presence in this area endangers your lives.”

Hostilities broke out last Friday when Israel launched airstrikes on several sites across Iran, including military and nuclear facilities, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes.

Israeli authorities said at least 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured since then in Iranian missile attacks.

Meanwhile, in Iran, 639 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the Israeli assault, according to Iranian media reports.