Middle East airspace closes, flights canceled

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a joint phone call on Friday to discuss Israel’s strikes on Iran and Tehran’s military response, a German government spokesperson said.

The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as tensions escalate.

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Hamas said on Friday that Iran was "paying the price" for supporting Palestinian resistance groups, following Israel’s large-scale strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

In a statement, the Palestinian Islamist group praised Iran’s longstanding financial and military support, calling the attacks a response to Tehran’s steadfast backing of the Palestinian cause.

Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Ubaida said the group stood by Iran, warning that Israel's actions would only hasten its "inevitable demise."

Citing a security source, Iran's Fars news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards,denied Israeli reports that Tehran has launched drones towards Israel on Friday, adding that Iran's revenge "will take place in the near future".

The Israeli military said earlier in the day that its air force and navy intercepted drones launched from Iran.

Israel said it had completed a series of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, targeting dozens of missile launchers, drone storage sites, and other facilities across the country.

The Israeli military said the operation destroyed long-range missile systems and a unique container-based launch mechanism in western Iran. It added that the continued presence of such weapons in Iran posed a threat to regional and global security.

Thousands of people gathered in Tehran on Friday to protest against Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets.

Demonstrators condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Iran’s leadership amid heightened tensions in the region.

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