Iraq shuts down airspace amid Israeli strikes on Iran

Baghdad (dpa) — The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced Friday the complete suspension of air traffic across all airports and the temporary closure of the country’s airspace, citing rising regional security tensions following Israeli strikes on Iran overnight.

The ministry did not comment on the reported use of Iraqi airspace by Israeli forces.

“In the early hours of dawn today (Friday), the airspace became a corridor for Israeli missiles and drones heading toward Iran,” an eyewitness told dpa.

In a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the ministry said “due to regional tensions, Iraqi air navigation and airspace have been suspended until further notice, in order to maintain the safety of civil aviation in Iraqi airspace.”

The statement further noted that the General Company for Air Navigation Services had begun gradually clearing Iraqi skies of all incoming, outgoing, and transiting aircraft, prioritizing the safety of travelers and overflying planes.

No further details were immediately available on when the airspace might reopen.