Flights across the Middle East were grounded on Saturday after United States and Israeli attacks on Iran sparked a rapid response from Tehran, escalating tensions across the region.
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Within hours of the attacks, at least eight countries shut their airspace. Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates halted flights as the confrontation unfolded. Syria said it had closed part of its southern airspace along its border with Israel for 12 hours.
The escalation began after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes across Iran. Donald Trump, United States president, said the attacks would dismantle Iran’s missile industry and destroy its navy. The move came despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tehran responded swiftly. Iranian officials vowed severe retaliation and began launching strikes against Israel. Missiles and drones were also directed at several Gulf Arab states that host United States military assets, including Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates 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. “There are no red lines after this aggression, and everything is possible.”
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The conflict has disrupted one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors. The Middle East has become a critical route linking Europe and Asia, especially as Russian and Ukrainian airspace remains largely closed to most airlines because of the war there.
Airlines moved quickly to cancel or reroute flights. Russia’s Ministry of Transport said Russian carriers had suspended services to Iran and Israel. Air India announced it would temporarily avoid the Middle East altogether.
Several major European and Asian airlines followed suit. Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, British Airways, Aegean Airlines, Indigo, Japan Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines all announced suspensions or diversions to destinations in the region.
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For travellers, the impact was immediate. Flights were grounded mid journey, long haul routes were extended, and airports across the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean faced mounting uncertainty. For governments, the risk is broader. The confrontation now threatens to widen beyond Israel and Iran, drawing in states that host foreign military bases and placing critical energy and trade routes under strain.
Diplomatic efforts are under intense pressure. The strikes have derailed fragile talks over Iran’s nuclear programme and deepened fears of a wider regional war.
