Latest news with #USBase
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Doha Airport: What does closure of Qatar airspace mean for flights across Middle East?
Tens of thousands of travellers are scattered at airports across the Middle East after Qatar 's airspace was suddenly closed ahead of the Iranian missile attack on a US base. Doha is second only to Dubai as an international hub airport in the Gulf, with over 120,000 passengers passing through each day. Qatar Airways posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'As a result of the closure of air traffic movement in the State of Qatar, we can confirm the temporary suspension of Qatar Airways flights. 'We are working closely with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to support any passengers that have been impacted, and will resume operations when the airspace reopens. 'The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.' As airspace has now reopened and flights are beginning to resume, these are the key questions and answers which have emerged. What were the effects of the closure? The first plane to be diverted was a Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner from London Gatwick, which was well into its descent into Doha when it was turned away and flew to the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Dozens of following flights were diverted: initially to reasonably nearby airports, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai World Central, Muscat, Medina, Riyadh and Jeddah. As they filled up, diversion airports spread to Istanbul, Cairo and Salalah in southern Oman. Qatar Airways diverted many inbound flights from Asia and Australasia to Indian airports, including Goa, Delhi and Mumbai. Some flights returned to their starting points or were cancelled before departure – including what was intended to be the first British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Doha since Friday, after the weekend flights were grounded. What happened to other planes from the UK? A Qatar Airways flight from Heathrow is also in Riyadh. The departure from Birmingham returned to the West Midlands airport after it had flown 1,800 miles to the eastern edge of Crete. The next three Heathrow flights in line returned to London, as did the evening Gatwick and Manchester to Doha services. But passengers on Qatar Airways from Edinburgh are currently in Istanbul. What will happen to the passengers who find themselves in strange airports? The airline should aim to put the passengers and crew up in hotels and fly onwards to Doha once the airport is operational again. But that will prove difficult in locations such as India, where visa rules are tough. And in places such as Bahrain and Muscat, there will not be enough hotel rooms for a sudden influx of thousands of passengers. That is why many flights returned to their starting points – frustrating for travellers who may have spent eight hours on a 'flight to nowhere', but better than the alternatives. How will Doha airport itself cope? With difficulty. Tens of thousands of passengers will have been waiting in the terminal to depart, whether they had just flown in or were starting their journey in Qatar – perhaps returning home after a family or business trip. While the indications are that some departures may begin in the early hours of Tuesday morning, it will take days to clear the backlog. As we saw with the closure of Heathrow airport due to a power failure in March, disarray ripples across the world. Planes and crews will need to be brought back to Doha, and getting back on schedule will take days. What are passengers' rights? Under UK and EU air passengers' rights legislation, anyone starting their journey in Europe is in a strong position. Stuck in Doha? You must be provided with a hotel and meals until you can be flown out. Not yet left Britain? Passengers booked from UK airports on Qatar Airways flights via Doha to Asia, Australasia or Africa are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible by any carrier that has seats available. As Qatar Airways has a 25 per cent stake in British Airways' holding company, IAG, BA can be expected to pick up much of the slack. Emirates and Turkish Airlines are other possibilities for many Asian and African destinations, while Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific could provide lift for passengers bound for Australia and New Zealand. What if I am flying home – so my journey began outside Europe? Booked on a non-European airline from an airport outside the EU and UK, you have no such rights. As I discovered to my cost in November when Qatar Airways cancelled a flight from Kathmandu via Doha to London and offered an alternative a week later, with no hotel accommodation, the airline can do what it likes. On that occasion I took a refund and spent a further £1,300 on a flight home via Bangkok. Passengers in a hurry or who do not want to stump up for hotels may do something similar. Travel insurance may help with some out-of-pocket expenses and a modest payment for long delays. When will things be back to normal? Airlines including Qatar Airways are working at full stretch as the summer peak approaches, so even when the schedule is back on track it could be July before some stranded passengers get where they need to be.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
These strikes look like an Iranian escalation. They're likely the opposite
By Eric Tlozek , ABC Members of the Mexican Association of Islamic Women and some Iranian women march to the Iranian Embassy in Mexico City. Photo: GERARDO VIEYRA/NurPhoto Analysis - Iran has decided to retaliate to the US attack on its nuclear sites with a symbolic and overtly telegraphed strike that has caused no casualties. Iran gave advance notice that allowed the US base to be evacuated and Qatar's air defences to be prepared, with Patriot batteries in the Gulf state shooting down the Iranian missiles. From the outset Iran specified that it didn't attack "the brotherly nation of Qatar", only the huge US base it hosts at Al Udeid. In that, Iran may have misjudged Qatar. It has a very different relationship with Qatar to the near-client state dominance it had over Iraq when it tried the same tactic there in 2020. "We affirm that Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression, in line with international law," Qatar's government said. Other Gulf states were similarly angry, with Saudi Arabia placing "all of its capabilities" at Qatar's disposal. This is a huge step for a nation that eight years ago was reportedly considering invading its small neighbour (it instead imposed a three-year blockade, along with the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt). Qatar carefully builds alliances and influence and maintains difficult relationships, even with Israel. It will not appreciate Iran using it as a theatre for retaliation, even a symbolic one. Iran may have thought it was demonstrating to Gulf nations that there is a price for hosting US troops, but instead it has angered the countries that had been restoring ties and condemning the US and Israeli strikes. However, Iran appears to have correctly read the US in choosing this option of symbolic rather than escalatory retaliation - likely because it has done it before. In 2020 Iran struck US bases in Iraq in retaliation for the US assassination of senior general Qassem Soleimani. Iraq was given advance warning of the strikes, the Americans were ready (although many US personnel suffered blast trauma) and the US did not strike back. By avoiding casualties among US personnel at Al Udeid - a criteria Trump gave early in this new conflict for preventing US retaliation - Iran is hoping to signal it doesn't want further conflict with the US. The US looks like it is going to "take the win", as former president Joe Biden once said about an earlier round of Iranian strikes against Israel. Iran is clearly looking for an off-ramp and the US wants them to return, significantly weakened, to nuclear control negotiations. Nothing has so far dissuaded Israel, however, which is expanding its strikes to include Iranian military and security agencies that directly support the clerical regime. The US might say it wants the conflict to end in negotiations, without regime change, but Israel has given no sign that it is ready to stop. - ABC
Bloomberg
9 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Gulf States Reopen Airspace and Resume Flight Operations
Several Persian Gulf states, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have reopened their airspace and resumed operations at some of the world's busiest airports after halting flights as Iran launched air strikes at a US base in Qatar. Qatar barred flights from entering its skies as it prepared for Tehran's attack. Neighbors Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait followed swiftly as a precautionary measure. The disruptions lasted several hours and resulted in dozens of aircraft diverting from major hub cities Dubai and Doha.
Bloomberg
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Beginning of Iran Retaliation Approach: Panetta
Former Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, shares his thoughts on Iran firing missiles at a US base in Qatar and the US intercepting the attack and whether or not he believes this escalation is over as President Trump calls for no more. He speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's 'Balance of Power.' (Source: Bloomberg)
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Australia condemns Iranian strike on US base, urges diplomacy
The Albanese government has condemned an Iranian strike on a major US base in the Middle East. Iran overnight fired missiles at the Al Udeid Air base in Qatar in response to US strikes on its nuclear facilities at the weekend. The Trump administration has said it was informed of the attack beforehand and Qatar was able to shoot down the Iranian missiles without any casualties. Mark Butler was the first senior Albanese government minister to front media on Tuesday. He condemned the Iranian attack and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table. 'The Australian government does condemn this latest attack,' the Health Minister told Nine. 'We're pleased at reports there are no casualties from the attack, but again urged the Iranians to return to the table. 'It's important for them, but also for the region and the broader international community that we see a de-escalation in this conflict. 'Iran cannot be in a position where there's the threat of a full-blown war or further escalation. Here it is now behoves them to return to the table.' Donald Trump has dismissed the Iranian strike as a 'very weak response' to the shock US operation over the weekend, which involved American bombers flying a 36-hour mission to pound three uranium enrichment sites with so-called bunker buster bombs. 'Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered,' the US President posted on social media. 'There have been 14 missiles fired — 13 were knocked down, and 1 was 'set free,' because it was headed in a nonthreatening direction. 'I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. 'Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their 'system,' and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE. 'I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. 'Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.' A little later, Mr Trump posted: 'CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT'S TIME FOR PEACE!' It remains unclear if Iran still holds substantial amounts of enriched uranium. The regime has said it moved much of its stockpiles out of the facilities the US struck before the attack. Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed not to 'submit to anyone's harassment'.
