ISTANBUL

Syria said Friday that Israeli missiles hit air defense sites south of the country, following reports of an alleged Israeli strike inside Iran.

The state news agency SANA, citing a military source, said material damage was reported in the attack that targeted air defense sites in the southern region.

There was no immediate Israeli comment on the report.

Iranian state media reported early Friday that air defenses were activated against suspicious objects in several cities, including the central province of Isfahan.

The semi-official Mehr News Agency said three drones were destroyed in the skies above Isfahan.

Iran's state television confirmed "massive explosions" in Isfahan, but said no nuclear facilities were affected or targeted in the central city.

US media reports, citing officials, said that Israel had carried a strike inside Iran.

There was no official Israeli comment yet on reports of launching attacks inside Iran.

Tension escalated between Iran and Israel after Tehran launched a drone and missile attack on Saturday in response to the April 1 attack on its consulate in Syria, in which seven military advisers were killed.

Israel, which has not formally taken responsibility for the consulate attack, has vowed a military response to Iran’s weekend attack.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi