Airlines halt many Middle East flights after Israel hits Iran - Region
Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Syria closed their airspaces after Israel hit military and nuclear facilities in Iran. Israel said Tehran launched drones in retaliation.
Air India's New Delhi-Vienna and Mumbai-London flights were about to enter Iranian airspace when Israel launched its attack, forcing the planes to turn back to their origin, according to aircraft tracker Flight Aware.
Its London-New Delhi flight had just entered Iranian airspace and was rerouted over Iraq before arriving in India one-hour late, according to Flight Aware.
Air India diverted or called back a total of 16 flights between India and London and cities in Canada and the United States "due to the emerging situation in Iran".
Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, said it had cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran after Israel launched the strikes.
Qatar Airways, the country's national carrier and one of the Middle East's largest, said it had "temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to (the) current situation in the region".
Air France said it was suspending its flights to and from Tel Aviv "until further notice" following the closure of Israeli airspace.
"Air France is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East in real time," a spokesman for the French airline told AFP, adding that "the safety of its customers and crews is its absolute priority."
German airline group Lufthansa said it would suspend flights to and from Tehran until July 31. It also extended the suspension of Tel Aviv flights for the same period.
Swiss airline, which is owned by Lufthansa, suspended its Tel Aviv flights until October 25 while those to Beirut will be suspended until the end of July.
In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi airport warned "flight disruptions are expected through today (Friday)" as a result of the Israeli strikes.
Dubai's airport also announced flight delays and cancellations to the closure of airspaces in Iran, Iraq and Syria.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
3 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Sisi, Bin Salman Call for Immediate Gaza Humanitarian Relief
H-Tayea President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the urgent need to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza without restrictions, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, and reject any attempts to displace Palestinians or reinstate Israeli military control over the Strip. The two leaders also called for an end to Israeli actions against Palestinians in the West Bank. The talks took place in NEOM, where the leaders held extended discussions followed by a private meeting. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed President Sisi, reaffirming the deep ties between the two countries and Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various fields. He praised Egypt's regional role in supporting stability and development. President Sisi expressed gratitude for the warm reception, stressing Egypt's appreciation of its historic bonds with Saudi Arabia and its desire to build on recent advances in economic and strategic partnership. The meeting addressed expanding joint investments, the establishment of the Egyptian-Saudi High Coordination Council, and cooperation in areas such as industrial integration, technology, transportation, renewable energy, and urban development. On regional issues, the two leaders discussed efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated their support for the two-state solution. They also underscored their joint commitment to ongoing coordination amid regional challenges, stressing the importance of maintaining stability, sovereignty, and national institutions across the Middle East. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid Videos & Features Story behind Trending Jessica Radcliffe Death Video News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters Arts & Culture "Jurassic World Rebirth" Gets Streaming Date News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Business Egyptian Pound Undervalued by 30%, Says Goldman Sachs Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt News The Jessica Radcliffe Orca Attack? 100% Fake and AI-Generated
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israeli prison visit sparks protests - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir this week visited the Hadarim Prison where prominent Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has been held since 2002, serving five life sentences. The visit, widely covered by the Israeli media, appeared to be as much a political message to the Israeli public as a provocation against the prisoners and their families, underscoring the agenda of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right government. Analysts said Ben-Gvir's incursion into the prison was not an isolated event but a deliberate political statement signalling to Palestinians and the international community that Israel's current government is willing to violate international law to gain domestic popularity, even at the expense of prisoners' dignity and rights. According to sources from the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, Ben-Gvir entered the section housing Barghouti accompanied by a special police unit known as Yamaz and was filmed issuing strict security instructions. Sources said the minister made a point of ordering harsher detention conditions in what was described as a 'show of force aimed at humiliating prisoners and their symbolic leaders.' Prisoner organisations said the visit carried political motives, with Ben-Gvir, known for his extremist rhetoric, seeking to boost his image among Israeli settlers and the ultra-Orthodox right by targeting a figure of Barghouti's stature, a Palestinian national symbol of resistance and resilience. Barghouti's wife, lawyer Fadwa Barghouti, described the visit as part of a 'revenge policy aimed at undermining the will and resilience of prisoners.' 'What happened amounts to a political and moral crime. The extremist minister is attempting to use Marwan's name as an electoral tool to strengthen his position in Israeli politics. Marwan does not face the occupation alone; he represents an entire people striving for freedom and independence. The raid on his cell is an assault on all Palestinians and on international laws that protect prisoners,' she said. Prisoner organisations, including the Palestinian Prisoners' Club and the Palestinian Prisoners' Affairs Commission, issued statements holding Ben-Gvir fully responsible for the prisoners' lives and safety. Former Palestinian Authority (PA) minister for prisoner affairs Issa Qaraqe told Al-Ahram Weekly that the incursion and threats are part of a broader Israeli escalation and bloody campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. He added that such acts reflect the Israeli occupation's failure to break the Palestinian people's resolve and right to freedom and self-determination, driving it to commit cowardly retaliatory crimes against unarmed prisoners who are symbols of national dignity and unity. Qaraqe, a respected figure among prisoners and himself close to Barghouti, warned that the occupation's prisons are witnessing medical neglect, torture, solitary confinement, starvation, humiliation, the denial of basic rights, and brutal assaults. He cautioned that the threats have escalated to threats of killing, raising fears of potential massacres under the cover of political and media incitement by Israeli government ministers. Abdullah Al-Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, said the filmed threats by Ben-Gvir against Barghouti constitute a clear declaration of Israel's intent to assassinate detained leaders amid unprecedented abuses since the onset of the war on Gaza. Al-Zaghari said Barghouti and dozens of other imprisoned leaders were subjected to harsh and tragic conditions, including starvation, the denial of medical care, and systematic assaults, including beatings during crackdowns carried out by heavily armed special units. Repeated attacks have left prisoners with varying injuries, while the prison administration continues to obstruct visits and transfer detainees under violent conditions. Qaraqe emphasised that under international humanitarian law, Palestinian prisoners held in the context of armed conflict are considered 'prisoners of war' and are entitled to the protections outlined in the Four Geneva Conventions, particularly Article 13 of the Third Convention, which mandates humane treatment and forbids any assault on their lives or dignity. He said Ben-Gvir and the Israeli government's psychological and physical harassment of prisoners constitutes a clear breach of these conventions. International organisations, including the Human Rights Watch, have documented similar violations such as visitation bans, solitary confinement, retaliatory measures, death threats, and torture and have called for immediate international action to protect prisoners. Although international bodies have condemned the incursion, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Qaraqe stressed that statements alone are insufficient given the ongoing torture, killings, and oppression of Palestinian prisoners. He called for urgent international protection and investigations into crimes committed in Israeli prisons, particularly amid increasing reports of slow killings and torture. Inside Israel, Ben-Gvir's raid also drew criticism, with some Hebrew-language newspapers calling it a 'political stunt' aimed at boosting his presence on the far-right scene amid growing government divisions. Israeli opposition circles described the incursion as 'reckless,' warning it could ignite unrest in prisons and trigger uncontrollable protests. Even some former security officials cautioned against 'playing with fire,' noting that targeting symbolic leaders like Barghouti could have far-reaching political and security consequences. * A version of this article appears in print in the 21 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt backs Saudi initiatives supporting Palestinian cause: El-Sisi to bin Salman
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed Egypt's support for Saudi initiatives to achieve a just resolution of the Palestinian cause, including the outcomes of the Two-State Solution conference co-hosted by the Kingdom in late July. This came during a meeting between the Egyptian president and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Neom, Saudi Arabia on Thursday. Earlier on Thursday, the Saudi Crown Prince received President El-Sisi at NEOM Bay Airport at the start of his official visit to the Kingdom. According to the Egyptian presidency, both leaders agreed during their talks on rejecting any attempts to displace Palestinian people from their land or to reimpose Israeli military occupation on the Gaza Strip. They also reviewed Egypt's efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza in coordination with various parties, stressing the need to accelerate the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the strip, and secure the exchange of captives and detainees. El-Sisi and bin Salman further emphasised the necessity of halting Israeli violations against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The meeting between the two leaders comes amid intensive Egyptian and Qatari efforts to secure a ceasefire in the 22-month-old Gaza war between Israel and Hamas. It also comes as Tel Aviv pounds north Gaza, as it gears up to launch a major assault on Gaza City amid plans to reoccupy the entire strip. Cairo and Doha have intensified their mediation with various international partners to halt the war in Gaza, deliver urgent humanitarian aid to the strip, and prevent further deterioration of the catastrophic situation as famine grips 2.3 million Palestinians in the strip. On Tuesday, Cairo and Doha confirmed that Hamas has agreed to a 60-day truce proposal that was previously agreed to by Israel. Tel Aviv has not responded yet. In late July, Saudi Arabia and France co-chaired a high-level UN conference in New York in an attempt to revive stalled talks on a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Egyptian-Saudi ties According to the Egyptian presidency, both sides addressed bilateral cooperation, where they affirmed the importance of strengthening joint investments and expediting the launch of the Egyptian-Saudi Higher Coordination Council as a comprehensive framework for advancing ties at all levels. El-Sisi and bin Salman also agreed to initiate further partnerships in the fields of industrial integration, localisation of technological industries, transportation, new and renewable energy, and urban development. During the meeting, the Egyptian president expressed profound appreciation and deep gratitude for the warm welcome and generous hospitality he received during his visit, praising the close historical bonds linking Cairo and Riyadh. He also expressed keenness to continue building on the qualitative leap achieved in bilateral relations, in a way that contributes to strengthening economic and trade partnership and aligns with the aspirations of both peoples. In turn, the Saudi Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom's pride in its deep-rooted fraternal ties with Egypt, reaffirming his keenness to enhance frameworks of bilateral cooperation across various fields, and elevate them towards broader and more sustainable horizons that serve the interests of both nations. In 2024, trade between Egypt and Saudi Arabia grew by 18.8 percent to $6.5 billion, up from $5.5 billion in 2023, according to Head of the Egyptian Commercial Office in Saudi Arabia Osama Basha . He also noted that Saudi investments in Egypt reached $37 billion across more than 6,830 companies, while Egyptian investments in Saudi Arabia totalled $5 billion through 805 companies. Egypt now ranks seventh among Saudi Arabia's largest trading partners, Basha said. Both leaders also discussed the latest regional and international developments. According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi and bin Salman stressed the importance of supporting the stability of the region's states, preserving their territorial integrity, and safeguarding their national institutions. The Egyptian president and Saudi Crown Prince affirmed their determination to continue coordination and consultations amid the rapid developments in the Middle East. For his part, bin Salman praised Egypt's pivotal role in consolidating regional security, stability, and development, based on its historical influence and strategic position. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
