Iraq closes airspace as Israel and US strike Iran

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Transport Ministry announced Saturday the closure of the country’s airspace following Israeli and U.S. military strikes on Iran, including targets in Tehran.

Ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi told the Iraqi News Agency that “the ministry announced the closure of Iraqi airspace,” adding that “all Iraqi airspace had been cleared of air traffic prior to the closure.” Erbil International Airport director Ahmed Hoshyar had earlier told 964media that all flights were suspended.

Israel and the United States launched strikes on targets inside Iran, including in the capital. Israel’s defense minister described the operation as a “pre-emptive strike” intended to “remove threats against the State of Israel.” Explosions were reported in Tehran shortly after the strikes began, with witnesses and local media saying smoke was visible over several areas of the city. Casualty figures and full damage assessments were not immediately available.

The strikes came just days after Iran and the United States concluded a third round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva without a deal, with both sides having agreed to continue technical discussions in Vienna next week.

During last year’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Iraqi airspace was repeatedly traversed by fighter jets, missiles and other military aircraft from both sides. Iraq filed a formal complaint with the U.N. Security Council over what it described as violations of its airspace by Israeli aircraft during that conflict.

This article has been updated