Iraq extends airspace closure ‘until further notice’ as regional tensions boil over

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Transport said Friday that the country’s airspace will remain closed until further notice, extending the suspension of all civil aviation operations as tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate.

“In light of regional tensions, the suspension of Iraqi air navigation will continue until further notice in order to preserve the safety of civil aviation in Iraqi airspace,” the ministry’s media office said in a statement. It had already announced an immediate closure in the early hours of Friday morning.

The General Company for Air Navigation Services had begun clearing Iraqi skies of all inbound, outbound and transit flights early Friday, and confirmed the closure would remain in effect. “Airspace would remain closed ‘until further notice’ to protect the safety of travelers arriving in Iraq and aircraft flying through Iraqi skies,” the ministry said.

Iraqi Airways also confirmed it will continue to suspend all scheduled flights. “The General Company for Iraqi Airways is also continuing to suspend all its flights temporarily, for precautionary reasons, until further notice, in order to preserve the safety of travelers,” the statement read.

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The ministry did not say when operations might resume.

The extended closure comes as Israel carries out its military campaign, code-named “Rising Lion,” targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. Senior Iranian officials and nuclear scientists were reported killed in the initial wave of airstrikes Thursday night, prompting Iran to launch over 100 drones toward Israel in retaliation.

On Friday afternoon, Israeli warplanes carried out additional strikes in Iranian cities, including Shiraz and other locations, targeting what the Israeli military described as strategic infrastructure. The exchange has raised fears of broader regional conflict and drawn travel and aviation advisories across multiple countries.