Capitals, March 4 (SANA) Air traffic across the Middle East has been widely disrupted as military tensions in the region escalate, prompting several countries to close parts of their airspace or impose temporary flight restrictions.
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates has been largely shut down, according to media reports, forcing airlines to suspend or reroute flights across one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
Reuters reported that major airports in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar including Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Hamad International Airport in Doha, were among those directly affected, with flight activity across much of the Gulf slowing sharply.
The closures come amid an intensifying military confrontation following U.S. and Israeli strikes on targets inside Iran and retaliatory missile and drone attacks launched by Tehran against sites in the region.
Airlines have begun diverting flights away from areas of tension, leading to delays and cancellations of international services and disrupting key routes linking Europe and Asia.
Regional tensions remain high as Iran continues launching missile and drone attacks toward Gulf states, causing casualties and damage, while facilities inside Iran have also been hit by U.S. and Israeli strikes since Saturday.