Qatar suspends air traffic as precautionary measure: Foreign ministry
Qatar temporarily suspended air traffic on Monday as a precautionary measure in response to escalating regional tensions, its foreign ministry announced.
"The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the ministry said, stressing the country's priority is the safety of its citizens, residents, and visitors.
The ministry added that official bodies are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with regional and international partners, promising to provide updates through official channels.
The move came just hours after the US Embassy in Doha advised its citizens to shelter in place, warning of a potential Iranian response to recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. British and Canadian embassies later issued similar guidance.
Iran's armed forces had warned Washington of 'severe consequences' following US strikes on three nuclear-related locations in Iran.
Qatar, which hosts the Al Udeid Air Base — the largest US military installation in the region — lies just 190 km across the Gulf from Iran.
In neighboring Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the US Embassy announced it had temporarily shifted some staff to remote work. Bahraini authorities had earlier instructed most government employees to work from home due to 'regional conditions.'
Responding to the foreign advisories, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said such warnings 'do not necessarily reflect specific threats,' and reaffirmed that 'the security situation in the country is stable.'
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