Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE: Gulf shuts airspace one by one as tensions rise
Several Gulf nations have closed their airspace as tensions rise following an attack by Iran on the
Al Udeid US military base
in Doha. The moves by Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates mark a significant shift in regional air traffic and security policies.
Kuwait announced on Monday it has closed its airspace until further notice due to rising tensions in the region. The move came after a series of airspace closures across the Gulf as Iran launched an attack on the Al Udeid US military base in Doha.
Also Read:
Air India suspends all flights operating over Middle East after Iranian strikes on Qatar, Iraq
Kuwait Airways announced it suspended all flights departing from the country due to the regional situation. The decision came soon after Bahrain announced a temporary airspace closure as a precaution, following the attack on the US base.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Lifetime Office 365
prime software
Download
Undo
Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, said its airspace closure was necessary for security reasons. The area of responsibility for the Fifth Fleet includes the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
(Join our
ETNRI WhatsApp channel
for all the latest updates)
Qatar also shut down its airspace temporarily, citing rising tensions and security concerns. The United Arab Emirates followed suit, closing its airspace based on flight path and air traffic control information, as reported by FlightRadar. "The United Arab Emirates is closely monitoring the ongoing regional developments and is continuously assessing the situation," a government spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.
Live Events
The statement by the spokesperson was in response to a Reuters question over any closure of airspace in the UAE after Qatar shut down its airspace amid the ongoing regional crisis.
Also Read:
Multiple airlines cancel, divert flights across the Middle East region following Iran's attack on US bases
Iran announced late Monday night that it had launched an attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in Doha. The statement, broadcast on state television, called the action "a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America's aggression." The attack came shortly after Qatar announced its airspace closure.
International Airlines Redraw Flightpaths
Several global airlines have cancelled or rerouted flights across the Persian Gulf after US military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The strikes have caused widespread disruption in air travel across the Middle East.
Flight data from FlightRadar24 showed that airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel was largely empty as airlines opted for alternate routes. The global air safety group Safe Airspace warned that missile and drone activity posed serious threats to commercial flights, especially those operated by American carriers.
Rising tensions are also affecting jet fuel prices, with airlines preparing for potential increases due to the unstable situation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
43 minutes ago
- Mint
Iran-Israel War: Flights resume in Qatar as airspace reopens ahead of Trump's ceasefire announcement
Iran-Israel War: Flights are resuming in Qatar as the Gulf state reopened its airspace following a temporary closure amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Iran announced on state television that it had attacked forces stationed at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in retaliation for America's strikes on its nuclear programme. Qatar said it successfully intercepted the missiles and no casualties were reported. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar announced earlier in the day that flights coming into and out of the state were grounded to 'ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.' However, Qatar Airways confirmed flights were resuming on Monday night. 'Qatar Airways confirms reinstatement of flights as airspace reopens in the State of Qatar. Our focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onward journey safely and smoothly,' the airline said in a post on X. US President Donald Trump has said that Iran and Israel have agreed on a ceasefire, twelve days after the conflict began. 'We have deployed extra ground staff at Hamad International Airport to support you as we resume operations,' the airways said, urging passengers to check the airline's website or app before travelling. Airlines reviewed routes across the region when the airspace was shut, with some services rerouted or diverted mid-air. Earlier in the day, Iran launched missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the region. In a statement, Iran's top security body said that its armed forces used the same number of bombs that the US had used in attacking its nuclear facilities, news agency Reuters reported. The US officials said on Sunday that the country's military "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites using 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft. We have deployed extra ground staff at Hamad International Airport to support you as we resume operations. The strikes marked an escalation in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, with Israel beginning to strike Iran on June 13. Israeli strikes on Iran have so far killed at least 950 people, wounded 3,450 others, news agency AP quoted a human rights group as saying on Sunday.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Make Bhadohi TB-free by Nov 2025: CM
1 2 Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday appreciated the efforts made by the Bhadohi administration for securing first place in UP under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and encouraged the authorities to make the district TB-free by Nov 2025. He suggested that public representatives, officials, employees, and teachers adopt one TB patient each and support them with 'Poshan Potlis' to ensure their recovery. While inspecting an under-construction 100-bed hospital, 50-bed critical care block, and hemodialysis unit, Yogi interacted with patients. Patients confirmed that all necessary treatments were free of cost. He also gave on-the-spot approval for the appointment of a nephrologist in the hospital. In an interaction with basic shiksha adhikaris, the CM sought details about schools that lacked teachers and those with fewer than 25 students. He directed schools to organise teacher-parent interactions to ensure children maintain regular attendance. The district forest officer informed the CM that a target of 12.59 lakh saplings had been set for this year's plantation drive. Asking the department to ensure maximum public participation in the drive, he stressed the need for shramdaan for the 'One District, One River Rejuvenation' initiative. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트, 지금 시작하세요 [자세히 보기] 임플란트 더 알아보기 Undo To promote the carpet industry, the CM instructed the administration to promote the Carpet Expo Mart and to coordinate with CEPC and other stakeholders to develop proposals for expanding its reach. He also directed the revenue department to resolve all long-pending cases. During the review of Bhadohi Industrial Development Authority, Yogi asked for the creation of a land bank to facilitate future industrial expansion. He also directed officials to submit a proposal to restart ethanol production at the closed sugar mill in Aurai. To strengthen law and order, he asked for a top-10 criminal list to be created for the district, with action to be taken against land, mining and forest mafia, and criminal gangs. TNN
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
US strikes on Iran add to global travel disruptions and flight cancellations
The US entry into Israel's war with Iran has caused travel disruptions to pile up globally. Israelis disembark a bus after they were flown back to Israel in a special flight, on June 16, 2025, in Tel Aviv.(AFP) Following unprecedented bombings ordered by President Donald Trump on three Iranian nuclear and military sites over the weekend, Iran on Monday launched a missile attack on US forces at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base. Qatar had closed its airspace just hours earlier, after both the U.S. and U.K. also urged their citizens to shelter in place there. The region has been on edge following the weekend strikes from the US — and since Israel began the war with a surprise bombardment on Iran, which has responded with its own missile and drone strikes, earlier this month. As deadly attacks escalated between Israel and Iran over recent weeks, sections of airspace and airports throughout the region have temporarily closed. And airlines cancelled more flights in recent days, with some halting select routes through the middle of the week — particularly in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, just across the Persian Gulf from Iran. Singapore Airlines, for example, canceled some flights to and from Dubai starting Sunday and through Wednesday, citing 'a security assessment of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.' And British Airways has similarly suspended flights to and from Doha through Wednesday. 'Safety is always our highest priority,' British Airlines said in a statement confirming its cancellations to The Associated Press, adding that it 'will keep the situation under review.' Air India on Monday announced it was ceasing 'all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe' immediately until further notice. The airline, which is still reeling from a plane crash that killed at least 270 people earlier this month, added that India-bound flights from North America were being diverted or re-routed away from closed airspaces. Air tracking data from FlightAware showed 705 cancellations worldwide as of Monday afternoon. Dubai International Airport topped the list with 75 cancellations in and out of the airport as of around 5 p.m. ET. And Air India had had the highest amount of cancellations among carriers, totaling 38 as of 5 p.m. ET. Such disruptions have snarled travel, particularly as central hubs in the Middle East often connect flights worldwide — but experts stress that these kind of airspace closures and flight diversions are critical to ensuring safety, especially if future escalation emerges suddenly. 'It is the responsibility of states, countries to ensure that their airspace is safe for passage of aircraft,' Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation. He added that on Monday 'the Qataris did the absolutely right thing to close their airspace because of the threat of conflict.' Beyond Qatari airspace, Flightradar24 reported that UAE airspace was also closed on Monday. After several hours of diversions, flights appeared to be landing and taking off in the country again. Monday marks the latest 'dramatic increase' in this kind of impact, said Ian Petchenik, director of communications at Flightradar24. And while the future is unknown, he added that it's important to remember airspace closures and flight cancellations reflect that 'airlines, air traffic controllers and flight crews are doing their best to keep everybody safe.' Shahidi adds that it's important for travelers to monitor government guidance — such as safety notices from the US State Department. How long the war lasts and what, if any, future escalation comes next could carry more widespread implications. Beyond disrupting global flight networks farther down the road, Shahidi stresses that it's very difficult for people who may need or want to evacuate countries impacted by the war to do so without access to commercial flights. At the same time, he adds, it's critical that state authorities focus on keeping their skies safe — pointing to past tragedies of passenger flights that were shot down by strikes. That includes Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down by Russian-backed forces while flying over Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people. 'We are all praying and urging resolution to this conflict — and especially as it relates to protection of civilian air travel," Shahidi said. "We do not want to have an MH17, with innocent lives being lost in a missile strike ... We do not want to repeat that history.'
