TEL AVIV: Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport is closed until further notice, a spokesperson announced on Saturday, as hostilities between Israel and Iran entered a second consecutive day.
“There is no date or day set to reopen the airport,” airport spokeswoman Lisa Diver said.
The closure follows a series of Israeli airstrikes early Friday targeting military and nuclear facilities across Iran, including the Natanz nuclear site. According to Iranian sources, the strikes killed 78 people—including senior military officials and scientists—and injured more than 320, the majority of them civilians, including women and children.
Speaking during an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council late Friday, Iran’s UN ambassador, Saeed Iravani, declared that Iran reserves the right to respond “at a time, in a place, and by means of its choosing.”
In retaliation, Iran launched waves of drones and ballistic missiles at multiple Israeli cities, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned the Israeli strikes in a recorded address, stating, “We will not allow them [Israel] to escape safely from this great crime they committed.”
On Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz responded with a warning that “Tehran will burn” if Iran continues launching missiles at Israel, as hostilities between the two nations escalated for a second consecutive day.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that American forces are aiding in intercepting Iranian missiles. The US has reportedly repositioned military assets closer to Israel to strengthen missile defense systems and protect American bases in the region.
Meanwhile, earlier on Saturday, an AFP journalist reported heavy smoke and fire at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport following a reported explosion in the vicinity. State-run IRNA released footage showing thick smoke rising from the area in western Tehran, and the Mehr News Agency confirmed a blast occurred near the airport.
