Iran urges pilots away from airspace amid rising Israel tensions
Iran issued a warning to aircraft to avoid the airspace over part of the country. Tehran's actions have caused considerable concern, especially in connection with the announced retaliation against Israel.
The authorities in Tehran issued a NOTAM dispatch to pilots, including airplanes, to avoid the airspace over the centre, west, and northwest of the country.
Some pilots have already changed their routes. On flight tracking maps, you can see increasing traffic over Iraq and "emptiness" over Iran.
The announcement caused quite a stir. Iran has been threatening for several days to carry out an attack on Israel. The shelling will probably be carried out together with Lebanese Hezbollah. It is supposed to be retaliation.
In recent months, the situation in the Middle East has become exceptionally tense. Last week, there was an attack on Beirut, which killed Fuad Shukr, the military leader of Hezbollah. The next day, in an attack on Tehran, Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed. Both Iran and Hamas accuse Israel of responsibility for these attacks, although Israel has not confirmed its involvement.
The USA set the timing
The USA believes that the attack may happen on Monday or Tuesday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly conveyed this information during a conversation with G7 ministers.
Israel is preparing for the possibility of several days of rocket and drone raids from Iran and its allies. As reported by NBC television, Israel expects the opponent will try to "exhaust" it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a security cabinet meeting on Sunday, assured that any attack would be met with a response.
