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“Air defenses in Tehran are firing at “hostile” targets -Iranian state outlet Mehr”
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On April 23, 2026, Iranian state-affiliated media, specifically the Mehr News Agency, reported that air defense systems in Tehran were activated to counter "hostile targets." This report was corroborated by other news agencies and independent observers on the ground who witnessed the activity.
The claim accurately reflects reports issued by Iranian state media. Multiple international news outlets, including Xinhua, Daily Sabah, and Middle East Eye, documented the Mehr News Agency's statement regarding the activation of air defenses.
Furthermore, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Tehran independently confirmed witnessing the air defense systems engaged over the city. While an Israeli official denied that Israel was conducting strikes at the time, the fact that Mehr News Agency made the report and that air defenses were physically active is supported by the available evidence.
Source quality: The evidence includes reports from multiple international news organizations (Xinhua, Daily Sabah, Middle East Eye, Türkiye Today) and mentions independent confirmation from an Al Jazeera correspondent on the ground.
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6 reviewed sources behind this verdict.
Xinhua is a major international news agency that confirmed the specific report issued by Iran's Mehr News Agency.
Daily Sabah provides detailed context on the activation of defenses, the specific Iranian agencies reporting it, and the Israeli denial.
Used for: Iranian State Media Reports.
Türkiye Today includes independent confirmation from an Al Jazeera correspondent on the ground in Tehran.
# Iran's Mehr Says Air Defences Heard 'Engaging Hostile Targets' in Tehran. April 23, 2026, at 1:41 p.m. Iran's Mehr Says Air Defences Heard 'Engaging Hostile Targets' in Tehran. April 23 (Reuters) - Air defence systems were heard engaging what were described as "hostile targets" in parts of the Iranian capital Tehran on Thursday, Iran's Mehr news agency reported, after earlier reports that air defence batteries had been activated in the city. ### Photos You Should See – April
Air defence systems were heard engaging what were described as "hostile targets" in parts of the Iranian capital Tehran on Thursday,