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Iran issued NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) for the central, western, and northwestern regions of the country, advising aircraft to alter their routes. This move comes as fears of a regional war escalate in the Middle East, following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's warning that Iran might attack Israel within 48 hours.
Despite these developments, Iran's Foreign Ministry insists it does not seek to escalate tensions. The ministry's spokesman stated that Iran believes it must punish Israel to prevent further instability, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. "Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only be achieved by punishing the attacker and creating a deterrent against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel)," spokesman Nasser Kanani said, adding that Tehran's action is inevitable.
Iran has called on the US to stop supporting Israel, arguing that the international community has failed to ensure regional stability and should support measures to punish the aggressor.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' supreme commander, Hossein Salami, reiterated the group's threat that Israel "will receive retribution in due course."
The tensions are further fueled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that Israel is already in a "multi-front war" with Iran. Defense Minister Yoav Galant warned that any attack on Israel would result in a heavy price for the aggressors.
In a recent communication, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reassured Israeli Defense Minister Galant of Washington's support for Israel's security and its right to self-defense against threats from Iran and its proxies.
Amid the rising tensions, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and France have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon. The Group of Seven (G7) nations called for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East, warning that recent events could spark a wider conflict.
Adding to the unrest, two people were killed and two others injured in an attack in Holon, Israel, on Sunday. The Israeli army also reported a strike on a group of displaced people in Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties.
The situation remains volatile, with international calls for de-escalation and a return to stability.
[Source: Reuters, Associated Press, NYTimes and The Guardian]
