Iran vows 'powerful' response to Israeli strike on Beirut suburbs

TEHRAN, Iran — A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader said Tehran will deliver a "powerful" response to Israel's strike on Beirut's southern suburbs and teach the attackers "a lesson they will regret." Mohammad Mohber, deputy national security adviser and an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said the retaliation would come "very soon," according to Tasnim news agency. Iran's Civil Aviation Authority told the Mehr news agency that no new NOTAM (notice to airmen) had been issued and that no restrictions had been placed on flights, contradicting the reported cancellations. Flight-tracking websites, however, showed Iranian airspace as empty in the hours after the announcement, and flights at airports in Iran's western regions were reported canceled indefinitely, according to Tasnim. Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that Israel's Beirut operation could have been "avoided," coming as it did at a time when the United States was close to reaching a deal with Iran. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Tehran might refrain from attacking Israel as a goodwill gesture toward Trump and seek "concessions" in the expected agreement. No further details on Iran's planned response were immediately available.