Iran, Israel shut airspace as tensions escalate following Tehran strike

Israel's recent pre-emptive strike against Iran has escalated military tensions in the region, leading to airspace closures on both sides.

Updated on: Feb 28, 2026, 13:19:47 IST

Written by Yamini C S

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Both Iran and Israel shut their respective airspaces on Saturday as tensions escalated between the two countries. This came after Israel carried out what it described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran, triggering fresh military tensions in the region.

Communications were cut off in Iran following the attack. (via REUTERS)

President Donald Trump later confirmed US participation in the strikes against Iran.

ALSO READ | Israel-US joint strikes on Tehran after talks hit stalemate: Top points so far

Mobile phone services were cut off in Iran after the Israeli attack, the news agency noted. The attack has raised fears of a wider Middle East conflict and dealt another blow to already fading hopes of a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear standoff with the West.

Israel shut its airspace in response to fresh security concerns and advised people to avoid airports until further notice. The transport ministry said passengers would be informed at least 24 hours in advance before flights are allowed to resume, news agency Bloomberg reported.

ALSO READ | Iran's Khamenei relocated as Israel strikes Tehran 'with US help'

The closure comes at a time of heightened strain between United States and Iran, even as the two sides remain engaged in talks aimed at preventing direct American military action. Despite Washington maintaining that diplomacy is still an option, US President Donald Trump has significantly expanded the US military presence in the region, including the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to waters near Israel.

Regional air travel has faced similar disruptions in the past. Last year, an Iranian attack on the largest US military base in the Middle East prompted Qatar and neighbouring states to shut their airspace, leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded and severely disrupting operations at Doha’s airport.

ALSO READ | Israel launches 'preventive strike' on Iran; sounds 'extremely serious alert'

Airspace across large parts of the Middle East has been restricted multiple times over the past two years, forcing airlines to cancel lucrative routes, incur higher fuel costs and take longer detours, in some cases flying over countries such as Afghanistan, to steer clear of conflict zones.

Meanwhile, Iraq also closed its national airspace on Saturday following Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Iran, according to the Iraqi transport ministry, as per Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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