Tehran/Jerusalem: With the conflict between Iran and Israel escalating rapidly, Tehran appears to be bracing for another major attack, as several Iranian aircraft were seen departing the capital for undisclosed locations. Aviation tracker Flightradar24 reported that these were unscheduled flights, suggesting a possible effort to reposition strategic assets to safer locations.

"Several Iranian aircraft are currently leaving Tehran. The callsigns indicate that these are not scheduled flights, so they could be relocating to safer airports," Flightradar24 stated in its latest update.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Saturday claimed it had achieved "aerial freedom of action" over Tehran. IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said more than 70 Israeli Air Force (IAF) fighter jets participated in the overnight operation targeting Iran’s capital.

“This is the deepest area in Iran that the IAF has operated in so far,” Defrin said. “Tehran is no longer immune; the capital is exposed to Israeli strikes.”

According to Defrin, the Israeli strikes targeted around 40 sites linked to Iran’s nuclear, missile, and military infrastructure, including air defence systems. The spokesperson claimed that Israeli jets and drones flew over Tehran for more than two and a half hours, with operations still ongoing thanks to the initial offensive that dismantled Iran’s aerial defence capabilities.

Israel's airstrikes early Friday marked a significant escalation, directly targeting Tehran's sensitive military and nuclear assets. Iran responded with a series of retaliatory missile and drone attacks, further fueling fears of a broader regional conflict.

The Israeli military has indicated it will continue operations as necessary to eliminate threats posed by Iran’s weapons development and deployment.