Airspace over Iran, Iraq and Jordan remains closed after Israel launched a wave of strikes across Iran on Friday morning, killing senior military officials and targeting key nuclear sites.
The restrictions have led to widespread travel disruption after airlines across the region cancelled and delayed flights.
Iran announced its airspace would be closed until 2pm on Saturday, and President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would make Israel regret its attacks.
“The Iranian nation and the country's officials will not remain silent in the face of this crime, and the legitimate and powerful response of the Islamic Republic of Iran will make the enemy regret its foolish act,” Mr Pezeshkian said in a video statement aired on state TV.
Jordan's civil aviation authority said on Friday evening that the airspace shutdown remained in place as the “risk level has not changed”.
The authority is “evaluating the dangers to civil aviation”, its chairman, Capt Haitham Misto, told the Jordan News Agency (Petra).
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Friday that the “complete suspension of air traffic at all Iraqi airports and the closure of Iraqi airspace” would continue until further notice.
Syria also announced a closure of its airspace, which was due to lift at 3pm local time.
Its civil aviation authority said this decision would reviewed based on safety requirements.
Lebanon has closed its airspace to civilian craft until 6am local time, according to a report. LBCI reported that the government entity had come to the decision due to heightened regional tension and evolving security concerns.
Passenger flights grounded
Etihad Airways, the UAE's national carrier, cancelled its services to and from Tel Aviv on Friday, as Israel shut Ben Gurion Airport and placed its air defence systems on high alert in anticipation of retaliation.
Other major airlines, including Emirates, Lufthansa and Air India, rerouted services mid-flight on Friday. An Emirates flight from Manchester was diverted to Istanbul, while an Air India flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to Sharjah.
In a statement to The National, Emirates said it had cancelled and rerouted some flights. The airline said it is “monitoring the situation and making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption to customers, while assisting impacted passengers”.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
THREE
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
