Amid concerns about a possible Iranian retaliatory attack, the Israeli army published new protection instructions for the civilian population on Saturday evening. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters that from Sunday there should be no school lessons or other educational activities, no holiday camps and no organized excursions. The two-week school holidays for the Jewish festival of Passover begin on Sunday.

Homeland Security also posted additional instructions on its website. These should start on Saturday evening at 11 p.m. local time (10 p.m. CET) and initially last for 48 hours.

According to this, up to 1,000 people are allowed to take part in meetings in areas that are not close to the Gaza Strip or Lebanon. In the so-called conflict zones, up to 30 people are allowed to gather outside and up to 300 people inside. At work, citizens should ensure, especially in these areas, that they can quickly reach a shelter if necessary.

Military tensions have been growing in the Middle East for days. After the suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran's embassy compound in Syria, in which two brigadier generals were killed, the government in Tehran has threatened its arch-enemy Israel with retaliation.