Middle East crisis live: No plan for immediate retaliation against Israel, senior Iranian official says after blasts reported near Isfahan

Islamic State group fighters on Thursday killed 28 Syrian soldiers and affiliated pro-government forces in two attacks on government-held areas of the war-torn country, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports citing a war monitor.

In one attack, “22 regular army soldiers and fighters from pro-government forces were killed when IS jihadists opened fire on a military bus in eastern Homs province”, said the Syrian Observatory for Human rights.

Beijing ’s top diplomat Wang Yi held talks with his Iranian counterpart this week, with state media reporting that Tehran had said it was “willing to exercise restraint” after its first-ever attack on Israel ’s territory.

“It is absolutely necessary that the region remains stable and that all sides restrain from further action,” von der Leyen said alongside Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo in Lappeenranta, Finland, about 25 km (15 miles) from the Russian border.

Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defence unit in its south and causing material damage, Syria ’s state-run Sana news agency quoted a military statement as saying on Friday.

Iran fired air defence batteries early on Friday and some flights were diverted or grounded after reports of explosions near a major airbase and nuclear site where drones were spotted, say AP.