Iran, Iraq and Syria have announced airspace closures following Iran’s latest missile attack on Israel, escalating tensions in the region.
Iran shut down the airspace over the western part of the country
after launching a barrage of missiles towards Israel. The attack came in response to Israel’s latest strike on Lebanon.
Majid Akhavan, spokesperson for Iran’s National Civil Aviation Organization, said the decision was taken following security assessments.
“Due to safety and security assessments… the western part of the country’s airspace was declared closed until further notice,” Akhavan said in a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA.
Iraq suspends air navigation
Iraq also announced temporary restrictions on its airspace following the developments.
Civil aviation officials told Reuters that the country had closed its airspace and suspended air navigation operations for reasons linked to air traffic safety.
The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said the country’s airspace would remain closed for 72 hours.
The move comes amid concerns over the safety of civilian aviation as military activity increases across the region.
Syria shuts southern airspace
Syria has also taken precautionary measures following the missile exchanges.
Authorities temporarily closed the country’s southern airspace for 12 hours and suspended operations at Damascus Airport.
The restrictions were announced shortly after Iran launched missiles towards Israel.
The closure of airspace by three countries highlights growing concerns about the impact of the latest escalation on regional air traffic and security.
First direct strike since April truce
The missile attack followed Iran’s pledge to retaliate against the United States and Israel after a fresh attack on Beirut. On Friday night, Iran launched a large number of missiles towards Israel, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
The latest strikes are the first direct Iranian missile attack on Israel since a fragile ceasefire came into effect in April.
