Time-Lapse Video Reveals How Israeli Strikes Disrupted Flights In Iran’s Airspace

Last Updated:June 13, 2025, 15:59 IST

Israel’s unprecedented Operation Rising Lion has claimed the lives of several of Iran’s most influential military and security leaders on Friday.

A photo released by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official Sepah News Telegram channel on June 13 shows smoke billowing from a site reportedly targeted by an Israeli strike in Tehran early on Friday. (AFP)

Israel launched pre-emptive strikes on key Iranian military and nuclear sites as part of ‘Operation Rising Lion’, killing top Iranian military officials, including Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami and Army Chief Mohammad Baghari, along with senior nuclear scientists.

Later in the day, Iran declared that Israel’s attack amounted to a declaration of war and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council in response to the airstrikes. Iran declared a nationwide state of emergency, with explosions reported in provinces such as Kermanshah, Lorestan, and various parts of Tehran.

A time-lapse video by Flightradar24 showed the impact of Israeli strikes, as civilian aircrafts completely cleared Iranian airspace. Commercial aircraft were seen re-routing in real-time, avoiding the conflict-torn territory and opting for alternative routes.

The country’s airspace was deserted in a matter of seconds after Israel’s strikes. This situation is likely to trigger a chain reaction across global aviation, potentially leading to extended flight times, widespread delays, and higher fuel expenses for numerous airlines flying to and from the Middle East and Asia.

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Israel’s unprecedented Operation Rising Lion has claimed the lives of several of Iran’s most influential military and security leaders, in what analysts are calling one of the most significant blows to Tehran’s defence establishment in decades.

Among those killed was Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As head of the IRGC — Iran’s most powerful military arm — Salami was a key figure in shaping the country’s regional military strategy and reported directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei warned Israel it faced a “bitter and painful" fate over the attacks, while the Iranian military said there were “no limits" to its response. Tehran also warned that the United States would be “responsible for consequences".

Later, the military confirmed that Iran had launched approximately 100 drones in retaliation, which were intercepted before reaching Israeli territory. Iran has formally requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn the Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities and the killing of senior officials.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump demanded that Iran reach a nuclear deal as soon as possible, saying the next planned attacks will be more brutal. “Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," he said on his Truth Social platform.

Tehran, Iran

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