NATO Nation Denies Airspace To Netanyahu, Forces Israeli PM To Cancel Azerbaijan Trip
TOI.in
/ May 04, 2025, 10:32AM IST
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned visit to Azerbaijan was reportedly canceled after Turkey denied overflight permission to the Israeli state aircraft, Wing of Zion, according to a report by the Walla news site. The visit was not cancelled not due to 'regional developments' or a 'tight political and security schedule,' as initially stated by his office. Watch.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Todos en Buenos Aires están instalando esta alarma que aleja a los ladrones Verisure Alarma Ver oferta Undo A war that could go global Overnight, Israel launched what officials are calling Operation Rising Lion , a large-scale military response to Iran's prior provocations. 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'Now is the time to pursue their own bugbears in Ukraine, South Korea and Taiwan.' 'Tehran will burn': Escalation looms The situation has drawn strong responses across the international spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a Downing Street readout, they 'discussed the gravely concerning situation in the Middle East and agreed on the need to de-escalate.' The statement added, 'The UK is poised to work closely with its allies in the coming days to support a diplomatic resolution.' Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump confirmed that embassy staff had been moved out of Iraq, and voluntary departures were authorised in Bahrain and Kuwait. Speaking on Wednesday, he said, 'They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we'll see what happens.' He added, 'They can't have a nuclear weapon. Very simple—we're not going to allow that.' 'Digital blackout, drone swarms, cyber chaos' Professor Glees painted a chilling picture of how modern warfare could unfold in Europe. The first stage, he warned, would be cyberattacks. 'There's no doubt our primary enemy would be Putin's Russia,' he said. 'It will not only knock out our digital communications networks... normal life in the UK would grind to a rapid halt and there will be panic.' Glees described how Israel reportedly sent mobile alerts to every citizen at 3am—even to phones switched off. 'I've no doubt the Israelis took down the Iranian digital networks a few seconds afterwards,' he added. This would be followed by drone attacks on intelligence and military leadership. 'We here will likely see a massive drone attack taking out our top military brass, the heads of MI6, MI5 and GCHQ,' he said, even referencing current political staff as potential targets. 'MI6 currently flying the Pride flag would make it a doubly attractive target to Putin who thinks we're all sexually confused and obsessed.' Britain deploys forces, but urges calm British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the UK is moving fighter jets and other 'assets' to the Middle East. 'We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support,' he told reporters en route to the G7 summit in Canada. Starmer said he had spoken with both US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, describing the talks as 'constructive.' He added, 'Our constant message is de-escalate.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the call. 'We must urgently de-escalate & prevent any further harm to civilians,' he posted on social media, adding that he had spoken with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi 'to urge calm.' 'The next ten years may depend on now' Back in the Middle East, time may be running out. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing for a military strike on Iran regardless of US support. NBC News cited sources saying Israel may move within weeks if nuclear talks go poorly. While Trump continues negotiating with Tehran, Israeli officials fear any deal that allows uranium enrichment could be exploited by Iran. For Professor Glees, the lesson is stark. 'A pre-emptive strike may become the best option,' he said. 'Our PM (and I think Starmer would be up for this) would order a pre-emptive hit on Moscow. We'd do to them exactly what they were hoping to do to us. And we'd end up secure for the next decade.' As diplomacy battles against timelines and missiles, the world now faces a question that grows louder each day: can this be stopped before it's too late? Israel escalates further, strikes over 150 targets Israel struck more than 150 targets across Iran for a second straight day on Saturday, destroying key nuclear and military infrastructure and prompting Tehran to call off diplomatic talks with Washington. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were only the beginning. 'We will hit every site and every target of the Ayatollahs' regime, and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days,' he said in a recorded statement. The offensive, which began Friday, followed Israel's targeted killing of several top Iranian commanders. It has already claimed more than 70 lives, including nine nuclear scientists and multiple senior Revolutionary Guard officers. High civilian toll amid military targets Iranian officials said 78 people were killed on the first day of Israeli attacks, and scores more on Saturday. One missile destroyed a 14-storey residential block in Tehran, killing 60, including 29 children. Iranian state TV showed the building's crumbled remains and damaged homes nearby. 'Smoke and dust were filling all the house and we couldn't breathe,' said Tehran resident Mohsen Salehi, speaking to Iranian outlet WANA after an overnight airstrike. Tehran retaliates, Israel braces Iran's response came swiftly. On Friday night, it launched over 200 ballistic missiles and drone swarms at Israeli cities. Three people were killed, and 174 injured, many in Tel Aviv. Air raid sirens blared through the night. In cities like Rishon LeZion, homes were reduced to rubble. 'We're still trying to anticipate what will happen this evening. It's better to play it safe,' said Jordan Falkenstein, a resident in Tel Aviv. Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin warned the public on Saturday night that more attacks could follow and urged vigilance. 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Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, added: 'It is obvious that in such circumstances... it will be meaningless to participate in dialogue with the party that is the biggest supporter and accomplice of the aggressor.' Despite not joining the attack, the US has backed Israel's actions. President Donald Trump said the strikes gave Washington more leverage and warned Iran of 'much worse to come' unless it abandoned its nuclear ambitions. Oil markets, Strait of Hormuz at risk On Saturday, Israeli bombs reportedly hit Iran's South Pars gas field in Bushehr province, causing a fire and partial suspension of gas output. This marks the first time Iran's energy infrastructure has been hit in the current conflict. Crude oil prices surged by 7% on Friday over concerns of regional supply disruptions. A senior Iranian commander, Esmail Kosari, said Tehran was considering shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil transport. A wider conflict looming? The scale of Israel's attacks and the weakness of Iran's defence systems have rattled Tehran. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei faces growing pressure. If he escalates, he risks drawing in the US. If he retreats, it may look like defeat. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned, 'If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn.' Iran has also warned US-allied bases in the region they would be targeted if involved in intercepting Iranian missiles. Tehran's traditional allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, are now depleted after fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. Their absence weakens Iran's capacity to respond through proxies. Despite pleas from world powers for restraint, both countries appear set for a prolonged confrontation. Netanyahu declared that the campaign would continue 'for as many days as it takes.' The consequences, already severe, could soon spiral into a wider war.
