Officially, “operational constraints” were cited as the reason. Observers fear the latest decision is due to an impending Israeli counterattack.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, Iran briefly imposes a nationwide flight ban in the country. “From 9:00 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. CEST) to 6:00 a.m. (4:30 a.m. CEST), all flights in the country have been cancelled,” an official spokesman said. ISNA news agency on Sunday. Observers fear the latest decision is due to an impending Israeli counterattack.
Officially, “operational constraints” were cited as the reason. No further details were disclosed. Last week, Iran closed its airspace for nearly 48 hours after a rocket attack on Israel. But even after the lifting of the ban, there are no international flights to and from Tehran.
Iran launched a direct attack on Israel on Tuesday evening for the second time in six months. According to the Israeli military, most of the approximately 200 Iranian missiles were intercepted. Tehran said it was in response to an Israeli military offensive in southern Lebanon against pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighters and the killing of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Netanyahu announced the reaction
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a televised address on Saturday that Israel would respond militarily to the latest Iranian missile attack. “Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself and respond to these attacks – and that is what we will do,” he said.
According to Iranian media reports, the leadership in Tehran is already making preparations for another Iranian attack on Israel in response to an Israeli retaliatory attack. Israel’s “retaliatory plan for possible action” is “fully prepared,” the TASNIM news agency reported, citing military sources.
Monday marks the anniversary of a major attack on Israel by Hamas, which is also backed by Iran. An attack by the radical Islamist Palestinian Authority sparked the Gaza War.
According to Israeli figures, 1,205 people were killed in the attack on October 7 last year, and 251 were taken hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Subsequently, Israel has carried out a massive military operation in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas health authority, which cannot be independently verified, more than 41,800 people were killed. (APA/dpa)