JERUSALEM

Israeli authorities have decided to keep Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv closed until Friday, and maintained restrictions on public gatherings until Wednesday evening amid a widening war with Iran.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported Monday that the airport would remain closed until Friday.

Israeli authorities shut down the country’s airspace and the airport on Saturday after launching a large-scale joint attack with the US against Iran.

Israeli media report that more than 100,000 Israelis are currently stranded abroad.

Separately, the Israeli army’s Home Front Command decided to maintain restrictions on gatherings until Wednesday evening.

In a statement received by Anadolu, it said that until Wednesday evening, “gatherings are prohibited, services in open areas and inside buildings are suspended, and beaches remain closed to the public.”

The measures also include a ban on work at sites that lack shelters, while all educational activities are completely suspended.

These restrictions came into effect on Saturday following the start of the military operation against Iran.

The US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, killing several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In response, Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as regional countries which are home to US assets.

*Writing by Serdar Dincel in Istanbul