ISTANBUL, June 24: Several Arab nations temporarily closed their airspace late Monday as a precautionary measure amid heightened tensions in the region following an Iranian missile strike on a United States (US) military base in Qatar, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced the closure of its airspace, citing the need to safeguard the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors amid escalating regional volatility.
Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs Department similarly confirmed a suspension of air navigation over the kingdom in response to unfolding developments.
In Kuwait, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ordered a temporary airspace closure, prompting Kuwait Airways to suspend all flights.
Iraq’s Ministry of Transport also closed national airspace, including southern regions, halting all inbound and outbound air traffic.
Oman Air, in a statement, said it had suspended flights to and from Manama, Dubai, Doha, and Kuwait due to the regional situation. The airline warned of potential delays across its wider network due to extended flight paths.
EgyptAir, meanwhile, announced the cancellation of its services between Cairo and various Gulf cities, stating that operations would resume only once the security situation improves.
The wave of airspace closures came after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday.
The strike followed an earlier US offensive on Sunday targeting three of Iran’s nuclear facilities –Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — marking a dramatic intensification of hostilities.
These developments are part of a broader escalation in the US-backed Israeli campaign against Iran that began on June 13. – TVS
