Iraq extends airspace closure for week

ISTANBUL

Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority extended the closure of the country’s airspace to all arriving, departing and overflying aircraft for one week starting at 12 pm Friday as a precautionary measure.

The closure will remain in effect until 12 pm Friday, April 10, as officials continue to assess the security situation and regional developments, the authority said on the US social media platform X.

The decision will be reviewed based on any new updates, with airlines and relevant authorities to be notified of further developments, it added.

Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.