Iran, Iraq and Syria close airspace after counterstrikes

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) – Iran, Iraq and Syria temporarily closed parts of their airspace on Sunday after Tehran launched missile counterstrikes toward Israel, triggering widespread aviation restrictions across the region.

Iran’s National Civil Aviation Organization announced the closure of airspace over western parts of the country, citing security and safety concerns following the missile launches.

According to Iranian media reports, the move came after Tehran fired missiles toward Israel in response to recent Israeli military strikes in Lebanon, which Iranian officials said had further escalated tensions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict.

In neighboring Iraq, civil aviation authorities suspended air navigation and closed the country’s airspace for 72 hours, saying the measure was necessary to ensure the safety of civilian air traffic amid the rapidly developing security situation.

Syria also announced the temporary closure of its southern airspace for 12 hours and suspended operations at Damascus International Airport as a precautionary measure.

The latest developments have raised concerns about regional stability and the safety of commercial aviation routes crossing the Middle East, with multiple countries monitoring the situation closely.

Israeli military officials said they were assessing the security situation following the missile launches, while Israeli authorities reported that the country’s airspace remained open and commercial flights continued to operate.

The escalation follows renewed hostilities between Israel and regional actors, with concerns growing that continued Israeli military strikes could undermine efforts to maintain a broader ceasefire and prevent further conflict across the region.