Israeli Army Orders Nationwide School Closures Due to Security Worries

Israel announced the nationwide closure of schools due to security concerns following Iran’s threat of retaliation for an air strike on its Damascus consulate, stated military spokesman Daniel Hagari on Saturday.

“There will be no educational activities at the start of the school week on Sunday, given the security situation,” he emphasized in a televised address. “Educational establishments, day camps, and planned trips will be suspended starting tomorrow morning and for the following days.”

Furthermore, Israel will enforce restrictions on outdoor gatherings, limiting them to 1,000 individuals, with even smaller numbers allowed in border regions, where beaches will be closed. These measures, outlined in online army guidelines, are slated to remain in effect for two days.

The tensions stem from an Israeli strike on April 1 that targeted Iran’s consulate in Damascus, resulting in the deaths of seven members of the Revolutionary Guards, including two generals. In response, Iran vowed retaliation, prompting concerns echoed by US President Joe Biden, who anticipated Iranian action “sooner rather than later.”In a separate incident, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized a container ship purportedly linked to Israel near the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by state media earlier on Saturday.

Reacting to the escalating situation, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz postponed a planned visit to Hungary and Austria scheduled to commence on Sunday, citing the prevailing security conditions, according to his spokesman.