Amman, Jordan — Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon closed their airspace on Tuesday evening in response to an Iranian missile attack on Israel. The missile strike, reportedly involving about 200 missiles, was in retaliation for the assassinations of key figures, including Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, and Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah.
The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission announced the closure of the kingdom’s airspace to all incoming, outgoing, and transiting flights, citing concerns over the escalating conflict and risks to flight operations and passenger safety. Hytham Mesto, head of the commission, stated that the decision would be reviewed based on the ongoing situation and further risk assessments.
Similarly, Iraq’s Transport Minister Razzaq Muhaybis al-Saadawi ordered the closure of Iraqi airspace, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of air navigation. Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Works and Transport also issued a statement, noting that the country’s airspace would be closed for two hours, with plans to reassess the situation afterward.
The missile attack from Iran came after Israel targeted Nasrallah, Haniyeh, and Abbas Nilforoushan, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in recent airstrikes. Israel’s actions have heightened tensions in the region, prompting precautionary measures from neighboring countries.
