Airspace Grounded as US-Israel Strike Sparks Iran Retaliation
At least eight nations, including Iran, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar, slam their skies shut amid soaring Middle East tensions.
Middle East Airspace Closes Amid Rising Tensions
A massive wave of violence erupted after a US-Israel strike targeting Iran’s missile sites, pushing Tehran to hit back hard. The fallout saw the skies across the Middle East shut tight, grinding regional and global air travel to a halt.
On Saturday, eight countries pulled their airspace off-limits: Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. Syria followed suit, closing part of its southern airspace near the Israeli border for 12 hours.
US and Israel Launch Devastating Strikes, Iran Vows Revenge
The attacks were aimed at crippling Iran’s missile manufacturing and naval power. Iran, already on edge, promised a fierce response and retaliated with strikes across Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases – including Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, and Bahrain.
“All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become a legitimate target,” a senior Iranian official warned. “There are no red lines after this aggression, and everything is possible.”
Global Airlines Cancel Flights, Middle East Air Routes Disrupted
The chaos forced major airlines to scrap or reroute flights through key Middle East hubs—critical for Europe-Asia routes now avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace due to ongoing conflict.
- Russia suspended flights to Iran and Israel.
- Air India announced it will bypass the Middle East for now.
- Other airlines halting services: Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, British Airways, Aegean Airlines, Indigo, Japan Airlines, and Scandinavian Airlines.
Experts Warn of a New, Complex Conflict
Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem in Doha said the US-Israel strike and Iran’s fierce retaliation have sparked two overlapping conflicts, deepening instability across the region.
“This could make the whole crisis very intertwined and very complicated in a way that this region has never witnessed,” Hashem said.
