Alarms in southern Israel, explosions heard throughout the country

The IDF spokesman earlier this morning issued alarms in Abu Qrenat near Dimona in southern Israel. Residents from across the country, including Central Israel and Jerusalem, reported hearing “loud explosions” shaking the houses.

According to unconfirmed reports, the blast was the result of a patriot battery responding to a missile launched into Israel. The patriot was apparently launched from near Dimona and intercepted a missile above the city of Modi’in. However, at this stage it is unclear where the missile was launched from.

Several indications are that the missile was launched from Iraq, while according to other reports, it came from the city of Daraa in southern Syria following a possible Israeli air strike in the area.

Israeli media have been saying for weeks that air defenses near Dimona and the Red Sea port of Eilat are being stepped up in anticipation of a possible long-range missile or drone attack by Iranian-backed forces – perhaps as far away as Yemen.

Tensions are high between Israel and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program and a recent surge in sabotage attacks, some of which blame arch-enemies.

This is an evolving story.

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