Israel Iran missile attacks damage central Israel as Ben-Gurion Airport plans limited reopening

Iranian missile and drone strikes, plus debris from interceptions by Israel's Iron Dome, hit parts of central Israel, damaging residential buildings and street-level property. Israel said most projectiles were intercepted, though some landed, with 11 reported deaths. Airspace closed since Saturday is set to reopen for limited incoming repatriation flights via Ben-Gurion Airport from Thursday.

Iranian missile and drone attacks struck central Israel, damaging homes and street-level property. Charred cars were left on roads as firefighters doused flames on Tuesday. Debris from intercepted projectiles also fell in populated areas. Israel said most incoming fire was stopped by the Iron Dome. Still, 11 people were killed earlier, though none were reported hurt on Tuesday.

Air raid sirens sent people into shelters across Israel as explosions and shockwaves were heard. Some buildings were reduced to rubble, and shopfronts were damaged. Officials said the pace of attacks seemed to slow on Tuesday. Medical teams continued to monitor for new strikes. The damage included both direct hits and falling fragments from interceptions.

Israel airspace reopening plans after Iran strikes

Israel prepared to reopen its airspace for repatriation flights starting early Thursday. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Ben-Gurion Airport would accept limited incoming flights around the clock. Israel’s airspace had been shut since Saturday, when the joint US-Israeli war on Iran began. Some land crossings stayed open, and Regev said thousands returned that way.

Regev said the first 24 hours would allow one passenger flight per hour. That plan would bring in about 5,000 people. More flights may follow, depending on security conditions. It was unclear if only Israelis could use the flights. No commercial outbound flights from Israel had been approved under the plan.

Magen David Adom response to Iran missile strikes

At Magen David Adom headquarters in central Israel, emergency staff reviewed the latest strike on Tuesday. The site served as a dispatch hub with large screens and national maps. Its systems gave early alerts when missiles were launched. Staff could sometimes spot likely impact areas before emergency calls arrived from the public.

Nadav Matzner, deputy spokesperson for Magen David Adom, said timing varied by origin. Matzner said missiles from Iran took about 10-12 minutes to reach Israel. Missiles from Lebanon to central Israel took about a minute and a half. Matzner added that in this war, Hezbollah missiles hit only the north so far.

Military censor rules amid Iran missile strikes

Israeli authorities warned foreign media about publishing sensitive locations during the attacks. A correspondent and cameraman with CNN’s Turkish-language affiliate were detained on live television. Police said the pair were suspected of documenting a security facility. Police later released them. Officials said they would act against reporting that breached censorship directives.

Israel’s military censor required some security-related details to be submitted for review. In 2025, the censor expanded powers to require prior approval before publishing strike locations. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi issued a statement after the arrests. "We will not allow broadcasts that assist the enemy,\" Ben-Gvir said.

Press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, criticised the censor during last year’s 12-day war with Iran. The groups said it blocked an unfiltered view of the conflict. Turkey also protested the detentions. Burhanettin Duran, head of Turkey’s Communications Directorate, called the action an attempt to conceal the truth.

Governments scramble after Iran conflict disrupts travel

Governments worked to move citizens out as the war disrupted travel across the Middle East. Tens of thousands were stranded, including tourists, diplomats’ families, and Romanian religious pilgrims. Gulf airspace was largely closed, and major airlines cancelled services. Cruise ships could not pass through the Strait of Hormuz, adding further delays and uncertainty.

The US State Department said it evacuated non-emergency personnel and families in six nations. The department added the United Arab Emirates to the list on Tuesday. Countries including Russia, Germany and France also arranged repatriation flights. Some evacuees described mixed emotions. \"We called our children at 3 am to ask forgiveness because we might die,\" Romanian pilgrim Mariana Muicaru said.

Others spoke of relief after reaching home. In Germany, Wassim Mahlas arrived in Frankfurt on Tuesday after a flight from Dubai. \"Im breathing German air again,\" Mahlas said. The accounts came as transport routes remained unstable. Many travellers faced long waits, shifting schedules, and limited information.

US politics and oil prices tied to Iran conflict

In the United States, the war affected debate over interest rates. Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said he had backed at least one cut this year. Oil and gas prices linked to the conflict made him less certain. \"With the geopolitical events that we talked about, I just need to see,\" Kashkari said.

Kashkari spoke at the Bloomberg Invest conference in New York City. Kashkari referred to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. \"We need to get a lot more data in,\" Kashkari added. Kashkari was one of 12 voting members on the Fed’s rate-setting committee. Investors had priced in two cuts, but expectations weakened after the war began.

President Donald Trump also addressed fuel prices, saying they may rise during the conflict. \"We have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before,\" Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. US petrol averaged about $3.11 a gallon after an 11-cent jump overnight Tuesday.

Trump comments on Iran conflict, UK, Spain, and UN Security Council

Trump made claims about Iran’s military capability during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. \"They have no navy. Its been knocked out. They have no air force. Its been knocked out,\" Trump said. Trump also said Iran’s detection and radar systems were hit. \"The big scale hitting goes now,\" Trump said.

Trump added, \"Theyre going to be in for a lot of hurt,\" and said, \"first we have to finish off the military.\" Trump also addressed weapons supplies and timing. \"If anything, I might have forced Israels hand,\" Trump said. Trump said former President Joe Biden gave away a lot of ammunition, but claimed, \"we have plenty.\"

Rubio’s earlier remarks also drew attention. Rubio said the US struck because, \"we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action.\" Rubio added, \"And we knew that if we didnt preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.\" Democrats questioned the war’s costs and planning in a letter before a later Tuesday briefing.

Trump revived criticism of the UK over the Chagos Islands deal. \"The UK has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island that they have,\" Trump said. Trump also criticised windmills and immigration, and urged North Sea drilling. Trump separately targeted Spain over NATO spending. Trump said, \"we dont want anything to do with Spain.\"

At the United Nations, the Iran dispute disrupted the US presidency of the Security Council for March. Diplomats said Russia and China blocked approval of the US programme of work. The clash centred on a proposed meeting about sanctions on Iran. One diplomat said Russia and China viewed the sanctions as illegally reimposed last year.

US Embassy in Lebanon closure linked to Iran conflict

The US Embassy in Lebanon said it was closed to the public due to regional tensions. The State Department advised Americans to leave Lebanon and avoid travel there. Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel late Saturday in support of Iran. That triggered retaliatory strikes across Lebanon. US bases and diplomatic missions also faced attacks by Iran and allied groups in Iraq.

Embassies in conflict zones often halt public consular services, including visas and passports. They may still operate while staff work remotely or non-essential workers depart. Since the war with Iran began, only the US consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, fully suspended operations. The region remained on alert as travel, diplomacy, and security rules shifted alongside the fighting.

With inputs from PTI