Iran briefly grounds all flights as Israel mulls response to missile attack
US reportedly offers Israel increased diplomatic, military support in exchange for not hitting Iran’s oil facilities in retaliation
Iran briefly grounded all flights on Sunday an apparent precaution as it braces for an Israeli response to last week’s missile attack.
Flights from all Iran’s airports were canceled from 9 p.m. on Sunday until 6 a.m. local time on Monday, Iran’s Mehr news agency said, citing a spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization,
A notice to pilots, or NOTAM, sent out by Iranian authorities confirmed the closure while carving out exceptions for “emergency flight, ferry flights and state aircraft.”
Another state-run outlet, IRNA, cited “operational restrictions” for the closure, which likely related to an expected Israeli counterattack following an Iranian ballistic missile assault last week.
However, flight restrictions were then lifted after ensuring safe conditions, state media reported at around midnight.
Tuesday’s attack saw Iran launch some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, saying that it was targeting three Air Force bases. While Iran hailed the attack as a great success, and the IDF confirmed that two bases were hit in the attack, the army has also said that none of the Air Force’s operational capabilities were harmed in any way.
Most of the incoming missiles were either intercepted by air defenses or landed in open areas. However, the attack sent 10 million Israelis rushing for cover and caused damage to civilian structures as well, including a school.
Israel has yet to retaliate for the attack but has vowed a significant response as it mulls the potential targets it would hit.
While the US has generally supported Israel’s intention to retaliate, saying that it would work with Israel to ensure consequences for the attack, but has urged the Jewish state not to hit Iran’s oil facilities.
The US has offered Israel compensation in the form of diplomatic support and increased military aid in exchange for not targeting certain Iranian sites, according to a report by the Kan public broadcaster on Sunday evening.
“We take the US, our ally, into consideration and are always willing to listen, but at the same time, we will do whatever necessary to protect Israel’s citizens and security,” an unnamed Israeli source told the news outlet in response.
Iran’s rocket barrage, the second such attack this year, came during the war against terror groups Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Despite its limited success, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei decorated the Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace commander, the ayatollah’s website said on Sunday.
“Ayatollah Khamenei presented the Order of Fath to General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the Guards Aerospace Force,” it said. “Fath” is Farsi for “courage.”
The decoration was bestowed because of “the brilliant ‘Honest Promise’ operation,” the website said.
Hajizadeh, 62, has headed the Guard’s aerospace unit since its creation in 2009.
Iran said it fired the missiles into Israel in response to attacks that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. It also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, the former leader of Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in July in an attack widely attributed to Israel.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday that last week’s Iranian ballistic missile attack “didn’t even scratch” the Israeli Air Force’s capabilities, and vowed that Israel would not be deterred from responding to such attacks by its enemies.
During a visit to Nevatim Airbase, which suffered damage during the attack, Gallant said Israel would choose the manner and time of its response, and that this should be taken not just as a statement of intent, but as a working plan, according to a statement from his office.
“The Iranians have not even scratched the capabilities of the Air Force. Not a single squadron has been damaged, not a single plane has been damaged, there is not a single runway that is not available for takeoff, and there is no damage to our continuity,” he said speaking with with pilots, air crews and ground crews.
“Whoever thinks that by trying to attack Israel he will deter us from reacting, should look at what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Beirut — things are very clear,” Gallant said referring to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and the intense Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in the Lebanese capital.