IRAN cancelled all flights in the country as it hunkers down and prepares for a possible revenge strike by Israel.
The IDF is preparing to strike Iran in revenge for the 180 rocket barrage the Ayatollah sent against the country on Tuesday.
ReutersBright orange streaks of fire could be seen above Israel’s cities[/caption]
An Israeli strike on Beirut caused a massive explosion Saturday
EPAAn Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah[/caption]
Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers Friday with a rifle by his side
No flights were set to be in the Islamic Republic’s airspace between Sunday 9pm and Monday 6am local time, Iranian state media said.
But several hours after that announcement flights were allowed to resume
It is not yet clear if Iran grounded the flights because it believes Israel was set to strike it overnight.
Iran also implemented airspace restrictions when it launched the waves of rockets against Israel that sent streaks of fire over the sky in the country.
Israel has vowed revenge – but what it is set to strike is not entirely clear with US President Joe Biden making a bizarre comment around striking oil fields.
The 81-year-old said: “We’re in discussion of that. I think that would be a little… anyway.”
Axios said Israeli officials “point to Iran’s oil facilities as a likely target, but some say targeted assassinations and taking out Iran’s air defence systems are also possibilities.”
New satellite images released by hedge fund and news outlet Hunterbrook revealed the anchorage is now empty for the first time since November.
Kharg Island, about 20 miles west of Iran in the Persian Gulf, hosts an oil terminal which 90 per cent of Iran’s exports pass through.
Ayatollah Khamenei sat with a rifle by his side as he led prayers in Tehran today and sent a chilling message to Israel.
The Islamic Republic’s leader backed Tuesday’s rocket strike against Israel describing the action as “brilliant”.
He said: “We are neither procrastinating nor hasting in fulfilling our duty [to destroy Israel].”
It comes as Israel has continued its bombing campaign of Lebanon, striking Beirut last night causing a massive blaze.
Footage has captured a giant fireball erupting from an already burning blaze in the same suburb as where Hezbollah’s leader was recently killed.
Israeli troops meanwhile are on high alert for a sick attack by Hamas on the anniversary of October 7.
The IDF have confirmed they have strengthened forces on the Gaza border amid fears that Hamas could launch a rocket blitz.
Iran has grounded flights on the anniversary of October 7
IDFNew IDF drone footage shows soldiers get out of flat-bed trucks and take position during the terror attack[/caption]
The IDF said in a statement: “The Southern Command is prepared in defense and attack for several scenarios during the coming month, along with allowing memorial events in the [Gaza border communities] to be carried out safely.”
It comes after Hamas claimed responsibility for a terror attack at a railway station in Jaffa on Tuesday.
New footage from October 7 has been released by the IDF and shows how the troops battled the militants in house to house fighting.
Barbaric Hamas fighters stormed dozens of Israeli kibbutzes near the Gaza border and killed 1,200 people, including 380 security forces.
The terror attacked started the wider war between Israel and Iran directly and through its proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Pentagon said Tuesday’s blitz was twice the size of Iran’s April attack.
A key White House adviser slammed the strike as “defeated and ineffective”.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Saturday forces had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters so far in their invasion of Lebanon.
But he warned Israel that Hamas could attack events being held to mark the October 7 anniversary.
Hagari said soldiers were “continuing to fight and operate in Lebanon” and two divisions are manoeuvring in urban and other terrains.
He added: “So far 2,000 Hezbollah targets have been destroyed,” he says.
“Our soldiers are collecting a lot of intel and many weapons from Hezbollah.”
Israel launched their ground offensive into Lebanon as they seek to cripple the Iran-backed terror group and push it back from operating near the border.
How many hostages are still in Gaza?
ISRAEL believes around 101 hostages are still being held in Hamas’ evil clutches in Gaza.
At least 36 of them are feared to be dead with a total 97 hostages remaining unaccounted for after they were kidnapped by Hamas thugs a year ago.
While a further four people taken hostage in 2014 and 2015 are still being held.
According to Israeli figures, 251 Israelis and foreigners were abducted by Hamas on October 7 last year.
A group of hostages were released in November and another one in June.
X/@GLZRadioIsraeli media shared an image of one rocket that struck a building but did not explode[/caption]