Israelis Advised to Seek Shelter After Strikes on Iran

Israel is in a nationwide shutdown after it launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, with citizens warned to be prepared for a counterstrike.

On June 12, explosions were reported from Tehran, with Israel acknowledging that it launched what it described as a “pre-emptive strike” on the Persian state. Following the strike, which targeted nuclear sites after days of tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, Israel has declared a state of emergency nationwide.

Sirens blared across the country, and notifications were pushed out to everyone in Israel announcing a nationwide state of emergency.

A message sent to Israelis’ phones read, “You should stay near a protected space. Movement in open areas should be minimized, and gatherings should be avoided. When a warning is received, enter the protected space and remain there until further notice.”

Israeli airspace is currently closed to all arrivals and departures until further notice. The closure was announced by the Transportation Ministry after the strikes. 

“The purpose of the closure is to prevent and reduce risk to passengers and aircraft. Passengers who were scheduled to depart today from Ben Gurion Airport are requested to stay home and not to come to the airport,” officials said. “Passengers will receive a media notification at least six hours before the airspace reopens and will be updated on the new time of their flights through airline websites and the Israel Airports Authority website.”

The U.S. Embassy in Israel has also instructed its employees to shelter in place.

“As a result of the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice,” the statement reads.

American citizens in the country were also advised to stay tuned to the embassy’s website and to follow local instructions.

“The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness—including knowing the location of the nearest shelter in the event of a red alert as security incidents, including mortar, rocket, and missile fire, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions, often take place without any warning,” the embassy said. “The security environment is complex and can change quickly.”

In a video address early on Friday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the Israeli strikes on Iran as Operation Rising Lion. He and other officials said they were defensive actions in spite of their pre-emptive nature.

Netanyahu said the strikes are “a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”

He said that Iran has stockpiled enough enriched uranium to produce nine atomic bombs, and if not stopped, could produce its first nuclear weapon in just a few months.

“This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” the Israeli leader said.

IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said in a statement that Israel was left with no choice but to launch the attack against Iran’s nuclear program on June 13 to ensure its survival.

“The IDF began pre-emptive and precise strikes targeting the Iranian nuclear program in order to prevent the Iranian regime’s ability to build a nuclear bomb in the immediate time frame,” he said. “We have no choice. We are operating against an imminent and existential threat. We cannot allow the Iranian regime to obtain a nuclear weapon that would be a danger to Israel and the entire world.”

He added, “This operation is for our right to exist here, for our future, and for our children’s future.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.