Iran has grounded all flights from its airports, citing operational restrictions, amid escalating tensions with Israel. The flight ban, effective from 9 pm local time on Sunday (6:30 pm GMT) to 6 am on Monday (3:30 am GMT), was announced by Iranian state media. Exceptions will be made for emergency flights, ferry flights, and state aircraft.
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The move comes hours after Israel vowed to retaliate against Iran’s barrage of missiles fired on Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran that the attack would not go unpunished, stating, “Although we have not yet completed the removal of the threat, we have clearly changed the course of the war and shifted the balance of the war. And we are not done yet.” Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself and respond to the attacks.
On Tuesday, Iran fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, triggering alarms and explosions in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley. Israelis sought shelter in bomb shelters, and reporters on state television lay flat on the ground during live broadcasts. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed 90% of their missiles successfully hit their targets in Israel, including central Israel and southern Israel. The Israeli military released footage of a damaged school in Gadera.
Iran’s armed forces have threatened “vast destruction” in response to any Israeli retaliation, warning that direct intervention by Israel’s supporters would provoke a “strong attack” on their regional bases and interests. The tensions have been complicated by the reported killing of top Iranian military commander Esmail Qaani in an Israeli attack targeting the new leader of Hezbollah, Hashem Safieddine.
Safieddine had recently taken over from Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by the Israelis last month. Arabic and English language media in the Middle East reported that Safieddine is highly likely to have died in the attack. Netanyahu did not address Qaani’s death but stated Israel was fighting a war on “seven fronts.”
In the Tuesday attack, Iran used hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time. The Iranian forces targeted three Israeli military bases, according to Iran’s state news agency. No injuries were reported in Israel, but one man was killed in the occupied West Bank.
The US Navy fired about a dozen interceptors against Iranian missiles headed toward Israel, the Pentagon said. US President Joe Biden expressed full American support for Israel, describing Iran’s attack as “ineffective.” Biden stated there was an active discussion about Israel’s response and that he would confer with Netanyahu.
Iran’s foreign ministry claimed its operation was defensive, targeting only Israeli military and security facilities. However, Netanyahu vowed to respond, saying, “No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens, and nor will Israel. Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and respond to these attacks, and it will do so.”