Air defence systems activated in Tehran to engage 'hostile targets': Iranian media

Outlet shows video of several flashes in the night sky over west Tehran; Israel says not attacking Iran

Iran's Nour News said on Thursday night that air defence batteries had been activated in parts of Tehran, without giving details on the cause or reporting any incidents.

Separately, Iran's Mehr news agency reported that air defence systems were heard engaging what were described as "hostile targets" in parts of Tehran.

#BREAKING Air defenses activated in Tehran

— Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) April 23, 2026

Mehr also showed a video of several flashes in the night sky over west Tehran, saying the footage was taken from a pro-government rally.

State news agency IRNA said that the sound of air defences was heard in both western and eastern areas of the capital.

Iranian media outlets later said that the activation of the air defences in Tehran was part of a test.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military source denied any involvement. “Israel is not attacking Iran,” the source told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

An Israeli security source told AFP that the country was not carrying out airstrikes in Iran. “Israel is not attacking in Iran,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel was “prepared to resume the war against Iran”, adding that his country was awaiting a green light from the United States to return Iran to “the Stone Age”.

If the war did restart, Katz said, Israel would begin by targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and "return Iran to a dark age".

"This time the attack will be different and deadly, delivering devastating blows in the most sensitive places," he said in a statement released by his office.