DUBAI - A “heavy explosion” heard at an ammunition depot belonging to Iran’s Defence Ministry in the central Isfahan Province was caused by a drone attack, state TV reported early on Sunday.

The complex in the central Isfahan province was targeted by suicide drones, one of which hit and caused “minor damage” to the ceiling of a structure inside the facility, the deputy governor of Isfahan province, Mr Mohammadreza Jan-Nesari, said on national television. One drone was shot down by the country’s air defence. 

No fatalities were reported in the 11 p.m. local time blast, he said. A video published by state-run IRNA news agency showed police cars and a fire truck at the entrance of the facility.

Iran has in recent years reported a string of incidents and explosions near sensitive defence and nuclear sites in the province. The official didn’t say who was behind the most recent attack, but the Islamic Republic has often blamed Israel for similar incidents in the past.

Authorities blamed Israel for an April 2021 attack on the key Natanz nuclear enrichment site that affected power supply to the facility and damaged a number of centrifuges. Authorities also said they foiled a plot by Israel’s Mossad spy agency in July to set off explosives at an unspecified “sensitive centre” in Isfahan. BLOOMBERG