A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit northern Iran on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey, as the country faced repeated waves of air strikes from Israel. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles) about 37 kilometers (23 miles) southwest of Semnan city.
Iranian state TV reported the earthquake as measuring 5.5 magnitude, shaking the area around Sorkheh in Semnan province, and noted that the tremors were felt in the capital, Tehran, approximately 150 kilometers (90 miles) away.
The timing of the earthquake coincides with the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Israeli military spokespersons have claimed “aerial superiority” over Iran, stating that they have control of the skies from western Iran to the capital.
The Israeli military has targeted nuclear sites, missile capabilities, and key defense installations in Iran. In response to the Israeli attacks, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “The Zionist enemy is being punished. It is being punished right now”.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has led to significant humanitarian concerns. The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concern over the impact on health facilities and access to healthcare.
He stated that the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran is putting health facilities and access to healthcare at risk, and the reports of attacks on health facilities are “appalling”. The head of Iran’s emergency services reported that Israeli strikes have damaged five Iranian hospitals and affected patients being treated.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with various countries evacuating their nationals from Israel and Iran. Australia has shuttered its Tehran embassy and ordered officials to leave Iran, citing a “deteriorating security situation”.
European officials have sought to draw Iran back to the negotiating table, but Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected any negotiation with the US while Israeli attacks continue. Araghchi emphasized that Iran has “nothing to say” regarding negotiations and added that the Arak Heavy Water Reactor, a facility under comprehensive IAEA safeguards and under construction, was bombed by the Israeli regime.