In a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israel has reportedly carried out a military strike inside Iran, according to a US official who spoke to CNN on Friday. This action marks a potentially dangerous development in the already volatile region, which Iranian officials have been trying to downplay.

The United States was given advance notification on Thursday of Israel's intention to carry out a strike in the coming days. However, a senior US official stated that the US did not endorse this response.

Iran responded swiftly to the reported attack, activating its air defense systems in cities like Isfahan and Tabriz after three explosions were heard near a major military airbase close to Isfahan, as reported by state media early Friday morning.

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the commander-in-chief of Iran’s army, described the explosions as related to anti-aircraft systems engaging a "suspicious object," which fortunately did not cause any damage, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA. Iranian officials further claimed that their air defenses intercepted three drones and there were no reports of a missile attack.

As of now, Iran has not identified the source of the strike. However, multiple state-aligned news agencies have reported that sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program remain secure, suggesting that the attack was limited in scope.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Iranian media seemed to downplay the incident on Friday, broadcasting calm scenes from Isfahan, where residents were seen walking through parks and visiting landmarks. Reports indicate that traffic was normal, and the airport reportedly reopened after briefly suspending or canceling flights early Friday.

This news comes just hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned in an interview with CNN that any further military action by Israel against Iran would be met with an "immediate and maximum level" response. He emphasized that Iran had communicated this warning to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.

The situation continues to evolve rapidly, with implications for regional stability and global security. Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds.