5.1-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Northern Iran Amid Escalating Tensions with Israel

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck northern Iran on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as Israeli forces launched renewed airstrikes across parts of the country.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported the quake at a slightly higher magnitude of 5.2. The tremor struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) and was centered approximately 37 kilometers (23 miles) southwest of Semnan, a city located about 145 miles east of Tehran.

The quake's proximity to Iran’s Fordow nuclear enrichment facility in Qom Province has raised concerns, although no immediate damage has been reported. Light tremors were felt in Tehran, the nation’s capital, but there were no reports of casualties or significant structural damage.

Coinciding with the earthquake, Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple locations across Iran. One strike reportedly hit an air defense installation in Behmai, located in the country’s southwest, according to Ynetnews, an Israeli media outlet.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating that three surface-to-surface missile launchers, allegedly poised to target Israel, were destroyed. In a statement on social media, the IDF also claimed that a group of Iranian military personnel — including a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for 15 missile launchers — was “eliminated” by a Remotely Piloted Aircraft in western Iran.

The overlapping timing of the earthquake and Israeli strikes has drawn attention, but there is no confirmed link between the two events. Tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate amid fears of a broader regional conflict.

Vanguard

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