4/14/2024–|Last updated: 4/14/202411:02 AM (Mecca time)
Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon announced the reopening of their airspace on Sunday after closing it late on Saturday as Iran launched drone and missile attacks on Israel.
Jordanian official television quoted aviation authorities as saying that Jordan had resumed air transport operations. The opening of Jordanian airspace came more than 3 hours before the scheduled time.
According to the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Authority, Haitham Misto, “The airspace was reopened after re-evaluating the risks according to national and international standards for the safety and security of civil aviation.”
In Baghdad, Iraqi aviation authorities said that the security risks have now been overcome. Today, Sunday, Iraqi Airways announced the resumption of its direct flights, after reopening Iraqi airspace “to all aircraft arriving, departing and crossing the country’s airspace by the Civil Aviation Authority.”
In Lebanon, Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamiyah said, “Flights have resumed since seven in the morning (4 GMT) and we are awaiting things.”
An Emirates Airlines spokesman said on Sunday that the company announced the cancellation of some flights and the rerouting of others.
The Israeli airport authorities also announced the reopening of Israeli airspace at 7:30 am today, Sunday (04:30 GMT), and indicated that the flight schedule from Tel Aviv is expected to be affected, pointing out that travelers should check flight times. .
Iran launched explosive drones and missiles at Israel late yesterday, Saturday, in the first direct attack on Israel, in a retaliatory strike that raised fears of a broader war in the region.
Two regional security officials said that Jordan has put its air defenses on alert to intercept any drone or missile that violates its airspace.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that American and British fighters participated in shooting down some drones that were directed at Israel over the Iraqi-Syrian border area.