Israel on full alert amid Iranian threat, Indian airlines change routes

Here are the most important developments:

• Vistara Airways said it would reroute some flights amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel. A spokesman for the airline said it would switch to emergency routes, which are in place to ensure continuity of operations in the event of such an incident. The spokesman added: “This may result in longer flight times on some routes and associated delays.”

  Air India has also issued a similar statement, saying its flights will be operated on alternative routes to and from India. The airline said it was closely monitoring developments in the Middle East.

• Israel placed its armed forces on full alert on Saturday in anticipation of a possible Iranian attack, Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, said. Reuters quoted Daniel Hagari as reporting that dozens of fighter jets had taken to the skies as part of the army’s preparations.

• The Israeli army’s actions were Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship on Saturday In the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was taken into Iranian waters after being boarded by a guard helicopter, Iran’s state-run Islamic News Agency reported. There were at least 17 Indians on board. According to the Press Trust of India news agency, India is in contact with Iran to ensure the welfare and early release of those on board.

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also announced that it would no longer fly over Israel and Iran as a precautionary measure. However, it will continue flying to Tel Aviv.

  The Dutch embassy in Tehran also remained closed on Sunday amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said it would decide on Monday whether the embassy will reopen.

• Austrian Airlines, the last Western European airline to fly to Iran, also announced that it would suspend all flights from Vienna to Tehran until April 18. The airline said it would modify flight routes that pass through Iranian airspace. Austria’s foreign ministry on Friday asked its citizens to leave Iran.

• Some countries have warned their citizens not to travel to the region in anticipation of Iranian retaliatory attacks on Israel. Following India, France, Russia, Poland, Germany and the UK, Canada also warned its citizens to avoid travel to Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

  Iran has been threatening retaliation against Israel after its embassy in Damascus, Syria, was destroyed in an attack. Iran blames Israel for attack that killed one of its top military commanders and six officers. However, Israel denies involvement in the April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate.

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he spoke to his British counterpart David Cameron to discuss the current situation between Iran and Israel. “Discussed the emerging situation in West Asia and our bilateral relations,” he wrote on X.

• U.S. President Joe Biden will return to Washington from Delaware on Saturday to discuss events in the Middle East with his national security team. He decided to shorten a weekend trip to Delaware by one day after saying he expected an Iranian attack on Israel “sooner rather than later.”

  The US president made clear that the US would support Israel and warned Iran against launching an attack.