Monday, 25 May 2026
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 showed airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. (X: @flightradar24)
Airlines steer clear of Middle East airspace following US strikes in Iran
Airlines on Sunday continued to steer clear of large sections of Middle Eastern airspace in the aftermath of US military strikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, according to Reuters.
Data from the flight tracking service FlightRadar24 indicated that carriers have maintained their avoidance of the region, a trend that began last week after an escalation in airspace restrictions prompted by recent missile exchanges.
“After US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, commercial flights in the area are operating under the same restrictions that took effect last week,” FlightRadar24 confirmed on X.
The website’s live tracking revealed that most airlines are not flying over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel. Instead, flight paths have been rerouted to pass north over the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even though these detours result in longer journeys and increased costs for fuel and crews.
Missile and drone attacks across multiple conflict zones continue to heighten risks for commercial aviation worldwide.
Since Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran on June 13, airlines have suspended flights to and from the affected nations. While some evacuation missions have been organized from neighboring countries to bring back stranded passengers, routine commercial service has largely halted.
On Sunday, Israel’s two largest carriers, El Al and Arkia, announced the suspension of all rescue flights bringing people back to Israel until further notice. El Al also extended its suspension of scheduled flights through June 27.
According to Israel’s airports authority, the nation’s airspace remains closed to all flights, though land borders with Egypt and Jordan are still open.
Elsewhere, Japan’s foreign ministry reported that it had evacuated 21 people—including 16 Japanese citizens—overland from Iran to Azerbaijan. This marks the second such evacuation since Thursday, with officials stating that further evacuations would be conducted if needed.
Similarly, New Zealand's government stated on Sunday that it is dispatching a Hercules military transport plane to the Middle East, ready to evacuate New Zealand nationals if necessary. The statement noted that government personnel and a C-130J Hercules aircraft would depart Auckland on Monday, though it would take several days for the plane to reach the region. Authorities are also in discussions with commercial airlines to explore additional evacuation options.