Commercial air traffic over Iran was cleared early Saturday after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated military strikes, with flight tracking data showing planes turning away from Iranian airspace as the situation escalated.A video posted by flight tracking platform Flightradar24 on X showed planes suddenly changing course around Iran, leaving large parts of the country’s skies nearly empty shortly after the strikes began.
On camera: Iran bombs the US naval base in Bahrain; Air defenses fail to intercept the missile He watches
The corridors over neighboring countries appeared crowded with diverted aircraft, as the Iranian authorities closed their airspace. The military action followed Israeli strikes across Iran, including in the capital, Tehran, where several explosions were reported.
Thick columns of smoke were seen rising over parts of the city, and explosions were heard in the central neighborhoods and near government complexes.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a “proactive” step aimed at “removing the threats posed by Iran,” saying it was coordinated with American forces.US President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had joined the strikes, indicating that the goal was to prevent Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear infrastructure.
Trump said: “To members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Armed Forces, and all the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and receive complete immunity, or, alternatively, face certain death. So, lay down your weapons, you will be treated fairly and with complete immunity, or you will face certain death.” In Israel, civil defense systems were activated amid expectations of retaliation. Sirens sounded in several areas, and authorities urged civilians to stay near protected places.Iran later launched retaliatory strikes targeting Israel and US military installations in the region, along with striking multiple countries, including Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
