BAGHDAD / TEHRAN — Iran and Iraq have ordered the immediate and complete closure of their respective airspaces tonight, following a dramatic escalation in regional hostilities marked by a massive Iranian ballistic missile strike targeted at Israel.
The aviation shutdowns have immediately disrupted international flight corridors, forcing commercial airlines to abruptly reroute around the Middle East heartbeat.
Iran Imposes Total Airspace Ban
According to multiple urgent updates from the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority, Tehran has issued a blanket directive halting all civilian and commercial air traffic. The mandate forces an immediate grounding of domestic flights and orders international carriers to clear out of the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR).
The sudden lockdown comes directly on the heels of a massive wave of ballistic missiles launched from within Iranian territory toward Israel. Iranian state media indicated the strikes were a direct retaliatory response to recent deadly military operations in Beirut.
Iraq Follows Suit with NOTAM Closure
Lying directly in the primary transiting path between Iran and Israel, Iraq quickly moved to seal its own borders to air traffic.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport issued an emergency NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions), officially shuttering the Baghdad FIR. Aviators were notified that the closure was enacted strictly due to “operational reasons”, a standard technical designation typically used by aviation regulators during unexpected military conflict to protect civilian aircraft from active missile paths or anti-air interceptions.
High Alert Across the Region
The simultaneous closures place the entire Middle Eastern corridor on the highest military alert. Air defense units across neighboring states have reportedly been mobilized to monitor potential projectile overflows or secondary strikes.
As of this writing, regional aviation authorities are advising all commercial operators to completely avoid the affected airspaces until further notice, warning that the situation remains fluid and highly unpredictable.
UDPATE 20:28 UTC
After circling, two flights are allowed to enter South of Iraq to Basra and Najaf.
UPDATE 20:30 UTC
Syria announces the suspension of operations at Damascus Airport.
UPDATE 20:52 UTC
A MD-88 just departed Tehran Mehrabad International Airport (THR) towards East.
