Israel, US control almost all Iranian airspace, Israel's UN envoy says

March 3 (Reuters) - Israel's U.N. envoy Danny Danon said on Tuesday that Israel and the United States now control almost all of Iran's airspace and that superiority would be evident in the next few days.

Danon told reporters at the United Nations in New York that the conflict with Iran would not be over in a day or a week.

"We knew it's not going to be an easy war. We are aware of the abilities of the Iranian regime. They spent billions of dollars on the infrastructure of terror, and we knew it's going to be a serious operation," he said.

"But it will not last forever. We have superiority. Today we have control almost over all the airspace of Iran, and I'm sure we will be able to show that superiority in the next few days."

When asked how long Iran's missile attacks on neighboring countries might continue, Danon said U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran since Saturday had succeeded in degrading its capabilities.

"It will be harder for them to launch missiles," he said, although he added that Iran had hidden launchers underground and in caves.

"They prepared for this operation, so it's not going to be overnight, but I think it will be gradual."

Danon also said that the Lebanese government should act now against Hezbollah militants attacking Israel from Lebanese territory to prevent further escalation.

He said Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was right in saying that Hezbollah must disarm.

"But statements do not dismantle rockets," he said. "We expect the Lebanese Government to restrain Hezbollah, take control, act now to prevent further escalation."

Lebanon was drawn into the spillover from the war on Monday, when Hezbollah militants based there opened fire on Israel with drones and missiles.

Lebanon on Monday banned military activities by Hezbollah, but the militants launched missiles at Israel for a second day on Tuesday. Israel responded by sending troops into southern Lebanon and with waves of airstrikes.