Iran strike intended to signal Israel's abilities

 

Following the conclusion of an aerial strike on Iran, Iran has removed all restrictions on flights at the Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, after the flights were suspended due to alleged Israeli attacks in Isfahan.

However, Fly Dubai has cancelled its Friday flights to Tehran.

The strike was carried out in retaliation for Iran's Saturday night launch of 350 drones and missiles towards Israeli territory. A full 99% of the launches were intercepted, only five fell in Israeli territory; only one person, a Bedouin child, was injured.

A spokesperson for the Iranian aviation organization said that the restrictions had also been removed in "several other airports."

Iranian reports also said that Israel's attack was carried out by means of UAVs.

The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), there has been no damage to any of Iran's nuclear sites: "IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. DG Rafael Grossi continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts. IAEA is monitoring the situation very closely."

An intelligence source told CNN that that initial estimates are that Iran will not respond to the attack on its territory. Despite this, reports in Israel said that the Israel's aerial defense system is at peak readiness.

An Israeli official told the Washington Post that the strike on Iran "was intended to signal to Iran that Israel had the ability to strike inside the country."

The US Embassy warned Friday: "Out of an abundance of caution following reports that Israel conducted a retaliatory strike inside Iran, U.S. government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice. U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel."

Australia issued a similar warning, with a government site urging citizens to "reconsider" travel to Israel and whether those already in Israel need to remain in the area.

"Reconsider your need to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories overall due to the volatile security situation, including the threat of terrorism, armed conflict and civil unrest," the warning read.