In a precautionary measure, Iran has suspended all flights and closed its airports overnight as concerns grow over a potential Israeli retaliatory strike. According to a spokesperson from the Civil Aviation Organisation, Iranian state media reported that operational restrictions prompted the cancellation of flights. This suspension is set to last from 9 PM on Sunday until 6 AM on Monday (11 PM-8 AM IST).
The decision comes in the wake of Israel’s vow to retaliate against Iran, declaring that the nation “will pay for it.” The heightened tensions coincide with the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, during which the Gaza-based militant group Hamas executed a series of unprecedented armed incursions into southern Israel. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 individuals, including civilians attending a music festival near the Gaza Strip, and nearly 250 people were taken hostage.
Hamas has labeled this assault as ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,’ marking it as the most lethal attack on Israel since its establishment in 1948, with fatalities surpassing those from previous terrorist incidents. The attack elicited a significant military response from Israel, which included a large-scale siege and bombing campaign in Gaza. According to health authorities in Gaza, this military action led to the deaths of over 41,000 individuals, many of whom were civilians, including women and children.
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The violence has further escalated regional tensions, prompting Iran-backed militant groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various resistance groups in Iraq, to launch attacks against Israel. Hezbollah, in particular, suffered a significant setback when its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. In the lead-up to Nasrallah’s death, Hezbollah faced a series of sophisticated assaults from Israeli intelligence, which targeted their communication systems, resulting in the deaths of over 550 militants.
As the anniversary of the October 7 attacks approaches, the Israeli military has announced the deployment of additional troops to secure southern communities and areas bordering Gaza, intensifying the already fraught security situation in the region.
