In a high-stakes escalation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a series of attacks on Iranian military installations on Saturday. The Israeli strike prompted Iran, Syria, and Iraq to shut down their airspace, grounding all flights. According to open-source flight-tracking site FlightRadar24, skies over the three countries were empty following the IDF operation. However, Iran has since announced plans to resume flights, while Iraq cited the need to secure civilian aviation as the basis for its airspace closure.
The IDF confirmed the strikes were carried out in coordination with the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in a three-phase operation on Saturday morning. This military action followed a ballistic missile strike by Tehran on October 1. “The IDF has completed its mission,” stated an IDF spokesperson, adding, “If the Iranian regime makes the mistake of escalating tensions again, we will respond.” The IAF reported a safe return of all aircraft involved in the operation.
IDF intelligence directed the strikes toward missile manufacturing sites within Iran, which are suspected of producing projectiles launched toward Israel last year. The IDF warned that those who “seek to escalate tensions in the region will face severe consequences,” emphasizing Israel’s readiness to defend its people. Iranian surface-to-air missile sites were also targeted in the mission to prevent restrictions on Israel’s access to Iranian airspace.
The attacks occurred just after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his Middle East tour, where he urged Israeli leaders to avoid escalation. Despite the diplomatic appeal, the region remains tense as neighboring countries enact precautionary airspace closures.
