Qatar closes airspace as US tell citizens to shelter in place out of caution
Qatar has temporarily closed its airspace after the US embassy in the gulf country on Monday emailed American citizens in the country, advising them to shelter in place until further notice.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, said the closure of its airspace was to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
Flight tracking websites show planes diverting to other airports following the closure of Qatari airspace. According to Flightradar24, there are 100 flights bound for Doha. Hamad International Airport is a major transit hub in the Middle East, BBC reported.
The recommendation, issued 'out of an abundance of caution' by embassy, prompted a wave of precautionary messages from various institutions in Doha, including universities and schools. The British government later followed suit, issuing a similar advisory for its citizens.
The alerts came as tensions heightened in the region following Iran's renewed threats to retaliate against the United States after recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Two US officials told Reuters that Iran could launch attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East, potentially within the next couple of days.
Qatar: Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice.
Full alert: https://t.co/CXUNdVRZoW pic.twitter.com/CJtuTgPUXV
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) June 23, 2025
The warnings come after the State Department told US citizens in international locations to 'exercise increased caution,' after the US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday. which Iran has threatened to retaliate.
Despite the advisories, Qatari officials maintained that there was no cause for alarm. 'The security situation in the country remains stable,' Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in a statement, adding that the US embassy's advisory did not indicate any specific threat. He emphasised that Qatar is prepared to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson @majedalansari : Advisory from a number of embassies to their citizens do not reflect the existence of specific threats#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/aNlHyFnJIW
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 23, 2025
Qatar is home to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, housing around 10,000 troops and serving as the forward headquarters for US Central Command.
The mixed signals sparked confusion among Doha residents on how to respond. Several American university campuses in Education City issued different instructions to staff and students: Texas A&M University reportedly ordered an evacuation, Northwestern University advised people to go home, and Georgetown University said individuals could leave if they chose to.
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