By Dharmesh Prajapati
Iran’s missile barrage on Israel has led to the closure of airspace across the region and security alerts as fears of a wider conflict grew on Sunday. This marks a major regional escalation since hostilities between US, Israel and Iran ended following a ceasefire in April.
Iran closed the airspace over the west of the country after the launching a salvo of missiles towards Israel in response to its latest strike on Lebanon. “Due to safety and security assessments… the western part of the country’s airspace was declared closed until further notice,” says Majid Akhavan, the spokesman for the National Civil Aviation Organization, in a statement carried by the news agency IRNA.
Iraq also temporarily closed its airspace and suspended air navigation for reasons related to air traffic safety following the attacks, civil aviation officials told Reuters.
The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority says Iraqi airspace will remain closed for 72 hours. Syria also temporarily closed its southern airspace for 12 hours and suspended operations at Damascus Airport.
Meanwhile, US Embassy in Jerusalem said that its consular sections in Jerusalem and in the Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv would be closed on Monday, and directed all US government employees and their family members in Israel to shelter in place. It also said staff members should be prepared to move to protected spaces in the event of alerts warning of incoming missile, rocket or drone fire.
Israel Defense Forces said sirens sounded in northern Israel as four missiles were launched from Iran, but that air defense systems were operating to intercept the threat. Iranian state media reported a third wave of missiles had been launched, but Israeli officials said all had so far been intercepted.
President Donald Trump told Axios he would call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urge him not to retaliate for Iran’s missile attack.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Efi Defrin said in a statement Tehran had “made a grave mistake,” adding that the IDF was working on military plans and will continue striking Hezbollah targets in Beirut. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the missiles were launched as a warning to Israel, and it threatened broader attacks across the region if Israeli strikes in Lebanon continued.
One of the targets was Ramat David Air Base in northern Israel, the IRGC said.
Iran’s military said Israel had “crossed all red lines” in intensifying its attacks in southern Lebanon and targeting the south Beirut suburb of Dahieh. “If it expands its attacks in that area, or responds to Iran’s action, it will face more forceful blows, and devastating attacks will be launched” against Israel and its supporters, the military added.
An IDF spokesperson said following the Israeli military strike in Beirut and after a situational assessment, the IDF was preparing for incoming fire at Israel in the coming hours.