World
EU aviation agency urges avoiding Iran, Iraq, Lebanon airspaces until August 31
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said on Wednesday that airlines should not operate within the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon due to tensions and the potential for further military action, as the US and Iran exchanged fresh attacks.
The advisory, which does not include Israel, came amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding flights to and from the Middle East since the US-Israeli war with Iran began at the end of February. Despite a ceasefire that began in early April, the conflict has seen multiple flare-ups of violence in recent weeks. Many major carriers have suspended flights to Israel for the near future, though some routes have resumed.
The EASA said its bulletin for the airspaces of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon was valid until August 31. The agency said it had withdrawn its previous bulletin, which also asked airlines to exercise caution when operating within the airspace of Israel as well as Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
It was not immediately clear whether it would issue a new advisory for those nations.
EASA said the implementation of the US-Iran ceasefire remained fragile, and its advisory decision was based on “ongoing high level of tensions and the potential for further military action.”
The European agency also added that should the existing truce break down, Iranian airspace was likely to be exposed to “imminent threats.”
The agency’s latest advisory came after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait on Wednesday. Those attacks followed a wave of US military strikes on Iran after tankers were hit in the Strait of Hormuz.
A US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he thought the US-Iran memorandum of understanding “is over,” calling Tehran’s leadership “scum” and adding: “We’re going to hit them hard.”
Meanwhile, Israeli carrier Arkia announced on Wednesday that it would restart direct flight services to Morocco in August after an approximately three-year suspension due to the multifront war that followed the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.
Starting on August 24, Arkia is resuming direct flights to Marrakesh twice a week using Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said in a statement.
“The resumption of the route comes after an extended period of joint efforts with aviation and security authorities, and marks significant news for Israeli travelers wishing to return and visit Morocco,” Arkia said.
