- Russia issued a travel advisory on Thursday for its citizens, and German airline Lufthansa stopped its Tehran flights, as tensions in the Middle East escalated. Iran International
- An Iranian news agency reported Tehran's airspace was closed for drills, but later retracted it. The airspace is used by Emirates and Qatar Airways to fly to the US. reuters.com
- The region has been on heightened alert since April 1 when an alleged Israeli strike on Iran's embassy in Syria killed seven Revolutionary Guard members, including senior Quds Force commander Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi. www.euractiv.com
- Iran said on Thursday that, because the UN Security Council did not condemn the April 1 attack, it was "imperative for Iran" to retaliate. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the incident. The Times of Israel
- Israel has reinforced its air defenses and recalled combat units on leave, as the US warned of Iranian retaliation. Pres. Joe Biden has vowed to support Israel. Al Arabiya English
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is bracing for threats beyond Gaza, even as he expressed confidence that his country was ready to defend itself. Evening Standard
Anti-Israel narrative:
- Israel's airstrike in Syria, killing an Iranian commander, signifies Israel's strategic shift toward purposefully escalating the situation. This move follows a pattern of targeted killings by Israel, deepening the rift between the two nations. Netanyahu's actions reflect a political agenda of aggression that could enflame the region.
DAILY SABAH
Anti-Iran narrative:
- Iran must avoid military retaliation against Israel. Diplomatic efforts must be emphasized to prevent regional escalation. Iran's supreme leader's irresponsible rhetoric raises fears of further conflict, which would be disastrous for the region and the world which is already wounded by two large ongoing wars.
ARCHIVE
Nerd narrative:
- There is a 15% chance of Iran carrying out a deadly attack within Israel before May 1, 2024, according to Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)