Iraqi authorities have closed the airspace over Iraq and the Kurdistan Region for 72 hours following Iran’s launch of a new barrage of missiles toward Israel on Sunday, amid rapidly escalating regional tensions.
Officials confirmed that the decision was taken as a precautionary security measure after heightened military activity across the region.
Erbil International Airport Director Ahmed Hoshyar told Rudaw that all flights have been suspended for 72 hours, while Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson Jihad Kadhim also confirmed to the same outlet that Iraqi airspace has been officially closed for the same duration.
Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian authorities have also restricted air traffic, declaring the western part of the country’s airspace closed until further notice following safety and security assessments.
The developments come after Iran launched missiles toward Israel in response to recent Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The Israeli military said it had detected missiles fired from Iran toward its territory, with sirens activated across several regions as air defence systems were placed on alert.
Iranian missiles were reportedly launched from the western Kurdish city of Kermanshah, according to regional media.
Following the strikes, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and escalating attacks in Lebanon with alleged US backing and international silence, claiming that prohibited weapons were used.
The Iranian military command warned that Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut had crossed “all red lines,” adding that further attacks or retaliation could trigger “more crushing and regret-inducing blows,” signalling a continued escalation risk in the region.
