A sweeping closure of Middle Eastern airspace has disrupted global aviation after a wave of joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran and sharply escalated regional tensions.
At least eight countries — Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates — announced the closure of their airspace as the conflict erupted on Saturday. Syria also temporarily closed part of its southern airspace along the Israeli border.
The closures followed coordinated US-Israeli attacks across Iranian territory. US President Donald Trump said the operation aimed to dismantle Iran’s missile industry and neutralize its naval capabilities. Tehran, which had been engaged in nuclear negotiations with Washington until the assault, vowed a forceful response.
Iran soon launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets and against several Gulf Arab states that host US military assets, including Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain.
“All American and Israeli assets and interests in the Middle East have become a legitimate target,” a senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera, warning that “there are no red lines after this aggression.”
Global aviation disruption
The rapid escalation forced airlines worldwide to cancel, divert or suspend flights to destinations across the region, a critical corridor linking Europe and Asia. With Russian and Ukrainian airspace already largely inaccessible due to the ongoing war, Middle Eastern routes have become even more strategically important for long-haul travel.
Flight tracking data showed airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, creating a broad no-fly zone stretching across much of the Gulf.
Russia’s Ministry of Transport said Russian carriers had suspended flights to Iran and Israel. Air India announced it would temporarily avoid the Middle East altogether.
Several major airlines also suspended operations to regional destinations, including Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, British Airways, Aegean Airlines, IndiGo, Japan Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines.
Qatar Airways said it was temporarily suspending all flights. Dubai-based Emirates halted services to and from Dubai and said affected passengers would be offered rebooking or refunds, adding that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority.
An American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Doha turned back over Europe, while several US-bound and Gulf-bound flights were diverted mid-route, according to flight tracking services. United Airlines introduced travel waivers for customers affected by the disruption.
Eric Schouten, head of aviation security advisory firm Dyami, said the impact on aviation was immediate and could persist.
“Passengers and airlines can expect airspace to be shut for quite some time in the region,” he said.
Regional escalation
Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem described the situation as creating two “parallel” conflicts — one between Israel and Iran, and another involving Gulf states hosting US assets.
“This could make the whole crisis very intertwined and very complicated in a way that this region has never witnessed,” he said.
Airlines have periodically rerouted or cancelled services during past regional flare-ups, but the scale of the current shutdown is among the most extensive in recent years.
The closure of key air corridors also forces aircraft to take longer alternative routes, increasing fuel consumption and operational costs. Analysts warn that prolonged restrictions could disrupt global travel schedules, raise ticket prices and add further strain to already tight airline margins.
With retaliatory threats still being exchanged and no immediate sign of de-escalation, aviation authorities and carriers remain on alert as the Middle East confronts one of its most volatile security crises in years.
