Earthquake Hits Northern Iran As Israeli Strikes Target Military Sites

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck northern Iran on Friday, coinciding with ongoing Israeli military strikes in the region.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, approximately 37 kilometers southwest of Semnan. Iranian state-run outlet Tasnim, however, recorded the magnitude slightly higher at 5.2.

Tremors were felt in the capital, Tehran, though early reports indicated no significant damage. The quake’s proximity to the Fordow nuclear enrichment facility in Qom Province has raised concerns, given the facility’s strategic importance. No structural damage to the site has been confirmed.

The earthquake occurred around the same time Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted Magar, an Iranian air defense location in Behmai Province in the southwest. According to Israeli outlet Ynetnews, the attack was part of a broader military operation aimed at eliminating missile threats against Israel.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for the strike, saying they destroyed three surface-to-surface missile launchers that were allegedly ready to fire. In a statement posted on social media, the IDF added that its forces had eliminated a group of Iranian soldiers, including an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander overseeing 15 missile launchers in western Iran.

“A cell of Iranian commanders and soldiers was also eliminated,” the IDF wrote. “Additionally, a Remotely Piloted Aircraft identified a group of Iranian soldiers, including an IRGC base commander responsible for 15 missile launchers, en route to carry out a launch. The cell was eliminated.”