Middle East On Boil As Explosions Rock Iran-Backed Militia Base in Iraq, Tehran Warns Israel Of 'Immediate' Action — Top Points

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has warned that Iran would respond at an immediate and "maximum level" if Israel is found acting against its interests. 

Tensions in the Middle East continue to simmer as five explosions on Saturday rocked a military base belonging to an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, killing three people, CNN reported. Although Israeli and US officials have ruled out their involvement in the blast, the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has warned that Iran would respond at an immediate and "maximum level" if Israel is found acting against its interests. 

Here's what we know about the Iran-Israel Conflict

• Three people were wounded after five explosions hit an Iran-backed militia in Iraq at a site belonging to the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), CNN reported, citing Muhannad al-Anazi, a member of the Security Committee in Babylon Governorate.


• However, there has been no information about the cause behind the explosions as Israeli and US officials have ruled out their involvement in the blast.


• The developments came a day after a military strike on Isfahan city, south of Tehran, on Friday. The attacks were reportedly said to have been carried out by Israel, but Iran downplayed the incident, indicating no plans for retaliation, Reuters reported.


• Following the explosion, several flights were diverted over Iranian airspace.


• As per media reports, Israeli officials stated that the alleged drone attack on Isfahan was meant to send a signal rather than causing damage.


• Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has warned that Iran would respond at an immediate and "maximum level" if Israel is found acting against its interests. 


• The drones took off from inside Iran and flew for a few hundred meters before being downed, Foreign Minister of Iran, Hossein Amirabdollahian told NBC News.


• "They're ... more like toys that our children play with, not drones," Amirabdollahian stated.


• Amirabdollahian said that Iran was investigating the matter and added: "It has not been proved to us that there is a connection between these and Israel."


• While Israel made no official comment on the incident, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that the United States had not been involved in any offensive operations. The White House, on the other hand, said it had no comment.


• US on Friday imposed sanctions on an ally of Israel's far-right national security minister and two entities that raised money for Israeli men, who were accused of settler violence. In addition to the sanctions that have already been imposed on five settlers and two unauthorised outposts already this year, the fresh ones are the latest sign of growing US frustration with the policies of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.


• Iran, in a UN meeting on Thursday, justified its attack against Israel saying that it was a legitimate response to the suspected Israeli missile strike on its consulate compound in Damascus on April 1, which killed several Iranian officers including a top general.


• In its response, Iran on April 13 launched its first ever direct attack on Israel. However, no casualties were caused as Israel shot down hundreds of the missiles and drones with the help of its allies, including the US.