TEHRAN: Iran closed its airspace “until further notice” on Saturday following an Israeli daylight strike on the capital Tehran, as tensions escalated sharply in one of the most serious confrontations in years between the regional adversaries.
Majid Akhwan, spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, announced that “the airspace of all of Iran is closed until further notice.” Reports also indicated disruptions to phone lines in parts of Tehran following the strike.
Earlier, Israel launched what appeared to be a targeted attack on central Tehran, with thick smoke seen rising from the downtown area, including near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to witnesses and local media.
The United States is participating in the operation, a U.S. official and a person familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military activity. The full extent of American involvement was not immediately clear.
It was also unclear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at the time of the strike. He has not been seen publicly in recent days as tensions between Tehran and Washington intensified.
The attack comes as the United States has assembled a significant fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region in recent weeks, part of efforts to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme.
There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding casualties or the extent of damage. The developments mark a major escalation in the long-running shadow conflict between Israel and Iran.
