Flights diverted, delayed: Airlines avoiding Middle-eastern skies; not flying in airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel

Airlines avoiding Middle-eastern skies; not flying in airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel
Tel Aviv and Tehran are locked in a growing conflict, trading missile strikes and targeting key infrastructure. In response, global airlines are avoiding the constantly evolving region, leading to empty skies over Iran, Iraq, and Jordan.
Flights are now being rerouted through Egypt and Saudi Arabia, causing delays and higher fuel costs for carriers worldwide.
Israel's major airlines, including El Al Israel Airlines, Arkia, and Israir, announced last week that they are halting rescue flights for returning citizens until further notice. El Al also stated that it would extend the suspension of its scheduled flights until June 27.
Iran DEVASTATES Israel With Fiercest Missile Attacks; Tel Aviv, Haifa BOMBED In Huge Revenge Strikes
Germany's Lufthansa has suspended flights to Tehran and is avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Israel.
Emirates has canceled flights to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran, while Qatar Airways has suspended operations to Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
Several global airlines had already suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels on May 4 landed near the airport.
Israel has closed its airspace as a precaution following the US strike on Iran's nuclear sites, according to the Israel Airports Authority. However, land crossings into Egypt and Jordan remain operational, according to the port authority.
Watch:
Smoke rises over Tel Aviv building as Iran fires missiles post US strike; several injured

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First Post

2 hours ago

• First Post

US strikes on Iran spark aviation safety warnings as airlines reroute flights

Safe Airspace, a membership-based website run by OPSGROUP, said the U.S. attacks on Iran may increase risks to U.S. operators in the region read more An organisation that monitors flight risks warned on Sunday that U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region as airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East due to ongoing missile exchanges. But following a barrage of early morning Iranian missiles, Israel has reopened its airspace for six hours on Sunday to bring back those stranded abroad since the conflict with Iran began on June 13. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Safe Airspace, a membership-based website run by OPSGROUP, said the U.S. attacks on Iran may increase risks to U.S. operators in the region. 'While there have been no specific threats made against civil aviation, Iran has previously warned it would retaliate by attacking US military interests in the Middle East - either directly or via proxies such as Hezbollah,' Safe Airspace said. Meanwhile, flight tracking website FlightRadar24, said airlines maintained flight diversions around the region. 'Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial traffic in the region is operating as it has since new airspace restrictions were put into place last week,' it said on social media platform X. Its website showed airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. They have chosen other routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if these result in higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times. Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic. Since Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, carriers have suspended flights to destinations in the affected countries, though there have been some evacuation flights from neighbouring nations and some bringing stranded Israelis home. In the days before the U.S. strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar and United Airlines did the same with flights to Dubai. Safe Airspace said it was possible airspace risks could now extend to countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 'We continue to advise a high degree of caution at this time,' it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rescue and evacuation flights Israel's carriers, El Al Israel Airlines, Arkia, Israir and Air Haifa, said earlier on Sunday they had suspended rescue flights that allowed people to return to Israel until further notice. El Al said it would also extend its cancellation of scheduled flights through Friday and Israir said it had halted the sale of tickets for all flights through July 7. A spokesperson for Israel's airports authority said the country's main airport, Ben Gurion near Tel Aviv, was expected to reopen for rescue flight landings on Sunday between 1100 and 1700 GMT. The small Haifa Airport serving Israel's north would also be open from 1100 to 1700 GMT. Flag carrier El Al, along with Arkia, Air Haifa and Israir said they would operate at least 10 flights on Sunday starting at 1100 GMT. Tens of thousands of Israelis and others who had booked tickets to Israel are stuck abroad. At the same time, nearly 40,000 tourists in Israel are looking to leave the country, some of whom are going via Jordan's borders to Amman and Aqaba and others via Egypt and by boat to Cyprus. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'In accordance with security directives, we are working to bring Israelis home as quickly as possible,' Israel's Transport Minister Miri Regev said in a statement. Japan's foreign ministry said on Sunday it had evacuated 21 people, including 16 Japanese nationals, from Iran overland to Azerbaijan. It said it was the second such evacuation since Thursday and that it would conduct further evacuations if necessary. New Zealand's government said on Sunday it would send a Hercules military transport plane to the Middle East on standby to evacuate New Zealanders from the region. It said in a statement that government personnel and a C-130J Hercules aircraft would leave Auckland on Monday. The plane would take some days to reach the region, it said. The government was also in talks with commercial airlines to assess how they may be able to assist, it added.

News18

2 hours ago

• News18

Iran's Loss Is Pete Hegseth's Gain: How US Strikes Boost Defence Secretary's MAGA Image

Last Updated: Quoting US President Donald Trump's clip on the Iran strikes, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X: 'Bless our brave Service Members.' Apart from the twist it has added to the ongoing Israel-Iran war, the United States' strikes on Iran's nuclear sites have led to another advantage – a much-needed turnaround for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. While Hegseth was under fire after the recent 'Signalgate', the Iran strikes have renewed support for him among the 'MAGA' brigade. Quoting US President Donald Trump's clip on the Iran strikes, Hegseth wrote on X: 'Bless our brave Service Members." . @POTUS 'I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many decades." — DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 22, 2025 WHAT WAS SIGNALGATE? In April, Hegseth faced mounting pressure to quit after the leak of the first Signal group chat, in which The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added, revealing sensitive war plans. Hegseth was mired in row after it was revealed that he shared detailed Houthi/Yemen war-strike plans via an unsecured Signal group that included his wife, brother and personal attorney. His adviser Dan Caldwell was ousted during the probe. The Pentagon said that no classified information was compromised. However, critics in the Congress such as Senators Charles Schumer and Tammy Duckworth publicly called for his resignation. US President Donald Trump had defended Hegseth, calling it a ' witch hunt". Hegseth had blamed 'disgruntled former employees" and the media, accusing them of attempting to ruin his reputation. HOW IT WILL HELP HEGSETH MAGA figures like Charlie Kirk, Dan Bongino, and Sen. Marsha Blackburn have emerged as strong advocates, urging GOP senators to confirm Hegseth. John Cardillo wrote on X: 'Precision strike. No leaks. No US casualties. Never again say that Hegseth wasn't the right guy to lead the DOD." Precision leaks. No US casualties. Never again say that Hegseth wasn't the right guy to lead the DOD. — John Cardillo (@johncardillo) June 22, 2025 Congressman Michael Baumgartner wrote on X: 'Certainly worth noting the impressive operational secrecy and execution from our military leadership and forces. This is a scenario that has been rehearsed for a long time, but it was still a challenging feat to pull off. May God Bless & Protect Our Troops." Certainly worth noting the impressive operational secrecy and execution from our military leadership and forces. This is a scenario that has been rehearsed for a long time, but it was still a challenging feat to pull off. May God Bless & Protect Our Troops . 🇺🇸— Congressman Michael Baumgartner (@RepBaumgartner) June 22, 2025 Nick Sortor on X applauded Hegseth for the 'blackout on information". 'FOX PENTAGON REPORTER: 'In my 18 years at the Pentagon, I've never seen such operational security. There were NO LEAKS. NOBODY speaking about this. A complete blackout on information about Iran at the Pentagon for the last few days. GREAT JOB, @SecDef Hegseth!" 🚨 FOX PENTAGON REPORTER: 'In my 18 years at the Pentagon, I've never seen such operational were NO LEAKS. NOBODY speaking about this. A complete blackout on information about Iran at the Pentagon for the last few days." GREAT JOB, @SecDef Hegseth! 🇺🇸 — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 22, 2025 Michael V Pearce posted on X: 'Fox News Jennifer Griffin: '18 years since I've been at the Pentagon, I've never seen such operational security. There was nobody speaking about this….There was a complete lockdown, almost a blackout of information…There were no leaks." Kudos to @SecDef Hegseth." Eric Daugherty, too, lauded Hegseth. No leaks. — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 22, 2025 MAGA Voice handle posted on X: 'Zero leaks. Zero idea of Donald Trump's plan. Huge shoutout to Pete Hegseth. Great Job." Zero leaks. Zero idea of Donald Trump's plan. Huge shoutout to Pete Hegseth. Great Job 🇺🇸 — MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 22, 2025 US STRIKES ON HOUTHIS Since March, the US military hit more than 1,000 Houthi-controlled sites, responding to the group's increased attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis have said their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians who are grappling with Israeli onslaught in Gaza. Despite Iran's repeated claims that the Houthis operate independently, US officials continue to cite evidence of Tehran's involvement through lethal support, military aid, and strategic direction. top videos View all The US forces had on April 20 conducted a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including the capital Sanaa and the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, with reports indicating over 70 deaths from a prior strike in the same region. A US airstrike on April 28 targeted Yemen's Saada governorate, a known Houthi stronghold. Hegseth had then launched a tirade against Iran for its 'lethal support" to Yemen's Houthi rebels and warned of 'consequences". He had written on X: 'Message to IRAN: We see your lethal support to The Houthis." About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump news18 specials us iran tension Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 22, 2025, 16:49 IST News world Iran's Loss Is Pete Hegseth's Gain: How US Strikes Boost Defence Secretary's MAGA Image

Business Standard

2 hours ago

• Business Standard

Airlines keep avoiding West Asian airspace after US strikes on Iran

Airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, with traffic already skirting airspace in the region due to recent missile exchanges. "Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial traffic in the region is operating as it has since new airspace restrictions were put into place last week," FlightRadar24 said on social media platform X. Its website showed airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. They have chosen other routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if it results in higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times. Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic. Since Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, carriers have suspended flights to destinations in the affected countries, though there have been some evacuation flights from neighbouring nations and some bringing stranded Israelis home. Israel's two largest carriers, El Al Israel Airlines and Arkia, said on Sunday they were suspending rescue flights that allowed people to return to Israel until further notice. El Al said it would also extend its cancellation of scheduled flights through June 27. Israel's airports authority said the country's airspace was closed for all flights, but land crossings with Egypt and Jordan remained open. Japan's foreign ministry said on Sunday it had evacuated 21 people, including 16 Japanese nationals, from Iran overland to Azerbaijan. It said it was the second such evacuation since Thursday and that it would conduct further evacuations if necessary. New Zealand's government said on Sunday it would send a Hercules military transport plane to the Middle East on standby to evacuate New Zealanders from the region. It said in a statement that government personnel and a C-130J Hercules aircraft would leave Auckland on Monday. The plane would take some days to reach the region, it said.