Pre-dawn blasts heard in several Iranian cities
Witnesses reported explosions and military activity in several Iranian cities early Thursday, including Karaj, Ahvaz and Shiraz.
In Alborz province, west of Tehran, residents in Karaj said three projectiles were seen over the Azimiyeh district before an explosion was heard at dawn. Additional blasts were reported in Mehrshahr at 2:28 a.m. and later in the Mehrshahr and Mohammadshahr areas around 3:45 a.m.
In Ahvaz, the main city in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan, two relatively strong explosions were heard at 3:11 a.m. and 3:13 a.m., according to witness accounts.
In Mahabad, in West Azarbaijan province in northwestern Iran, residents reported the sound of an aircraft or fighter jet passing overhead at around 4:30 a.m.
In Shiraz, the capital of Fars province in southern Iran, witnesses said several consecutive explosions were heard at around 4:40 a.m.
