Regional Airspace Closes Amid Escalating Tensions Following Israeli Strikes
Airspace restrictions across Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon lead to widespread flight cancellations as tensions rise following Israeli military operations.
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Jordan remains closed after Israel executed a series of military strikes across Iran on the morning of Friday, targeting key nuclear sites and resulting in the deaths of senior military officials.
The closure of airspace has caused significant travel disruptions, with airlines throughout the region cancelling and delaying flights.
Iran announced that its airspace would remain closed until 2 PM local time on Saturday.
In response to the attacks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted that the nation would not ignore what he described as a crime, promising that the Islamic Republic's response would lead Israel to regret its actions.
His comments were made during a video statement broadcast on state television.
Jordan's Civil Aviation Authority stated Friday evening that the airspace closure would continue due to unchanged risk levels.
Authority Chairman Capt. Haitham Misto indicated that the agency is actively assessing potential dangers to civil aviation, reinforcing caution as tensions persist.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced a complete suspension of air traffic at all airports and the closure of Iraqi airspace until further notice.
This move came in light of regional instability and the potential threat to aviation safety.
Additionally, Syria has declared a temporary closure of its airspace, scheduled to lift at 3 PM local time, with its civil aviation authority stating that the measure would be re-evaluated based on safety conditions.
Lebanon also closed its airspace to civilian flights until 6 AM local time, a decision attributed to increasing regional tensions and safety concerns, according to local reporting.
In response to the escalating situation, Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Israel has also suspended operations at Ben Gurion Airport and placed its air defense systems on high alert in preparation for potential retaliatory actions.
Other major airlines, including Emirates, Lufthansa, and Air India, have taken precautionary measures by rerouting mid-flight services.
An Emirates flight traveling from Manchester was redirected to Istanbul, while an Air India flight en route from New York to Delhi was diverted to Sharjah.
Emirates has issued a statement acknowledging the cancellations and rerouting, assuring that it is monitoring the situation closely to minimize disruptions and assist affected passengers.