TEL AVIV- Major global airlines continued rerouting flights to avoid Middle Eastern airspace following recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to FlightRadar24, aircraft from carriers such as United Airlines (UA) and American Airlines (AA) are circumventing high-risk zones, including Iran (IKA), Iraq, Syria, and Israel (TLV).
The U.S. attacks have intensified regional tensions, prompting heightened caution from commercial aviation.
Instead of passing through contested zones, flights are diverting north via the Caspian Sea or south over Egypt (CAI) and Saudi Arabia (RUH), resulting in longer routes and higher operating costs.
Photo: PYOKAirlines Reroute Flights Amid Tensions
Since June 13, when Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Iran, airlines have avoided flying over Iranian, Iraqi, and Syrian territories.
The avoidance intensified after the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear facilities. While Iran has not made direct threats against civil aviation, organizations like Safe Airspace have warned of increased risk to U.S. and allied aircraft operating in the region.
FlightRadar24 confirmed that operators are now treating airspace over multiple Middle Eastern countries as restricted, including those without direct involvement in the latest conflict. Routes are being actively redirected, affecting long-haul services connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.
In response to growing instability, American Airlines (AA) suspended its services to Qatar (DOH), while United Airlines (UA) paused flights to Dubai (DXB).
Meanwhile, Israel’s largest carriers—El Al Israel Airlines (LY), Arkia, and Israir (6H)—halted both commercial and rescue flights until at least June 27. Israel’s aviation authority also confirmed the closure of national airspace, though land borders with Egypt and Jordan remain open.
Tens of thousands of travelers with tickets to or from Israel are now stranded. The Israeli Tourism Ministry is working to facilitate their departure, with many passengers transiting through Amman (AMM) or boarding ferries to Cyprus.
Photo: Siddh Dhuri | MumbaiPlanesGlobal Evacuation Efforts Underway
In addition to regional travel disruptions, several nations are undertaking evacuation efforts for their citizens. Japan’s foreign ministry reported two successful overland evacuations of nationals from Iran (IKA) to Azerbaijan.
New Zealand announced plans to dispatch a Hercules military aircraft to the Middle East for potential evacuation missions.
Safe Airspace cautioned that potential threats could now extend to Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE.
While no direct attacks on civil aircraft have occurred, the threat landscape remains volatile. Airlines and governments alike are closely monitoring the evolving situation.
Photo: WikiImages – pixabay.comUS Air Force Attacks Iran
The United States has conducted targeted airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear facilities, according to President Donald Trump, who claimed the sites were “completely obliterated.” The attacks, reportedly involving GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.
Iranian officials confirmed strikes on Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—three core sites in the country’s nuclear program—but denied any critical damage. The U.S. coordinated the operation with Israel (TLV), intensifying the regional conflict and drawing global concern over potential retaliation.
The United States launched coordinated bombing attacks on three key Iranian nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. The strikes targeted deeply buried facilities, most notably Fordo, a uranium enrichment plant embedded in the mountainous terrain south of Tehran (IKA).
According to defense analysts, the only bomb capable of reaching such depth is the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 13,000 kg weapon capable of penetrating up to 60 feet of concrete.
While exact damage assessments are not yet public, U.S. intelligence sources suggest that MOPs were deployed in the attack. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization denounced the bombing as a “barbaric violation” of international law, although no immediate casualties or radiation leaks have been reported.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed no spike in radiation and called for an emergency board meeting.
Iran claims it had preemptively evacuated the targeted facilities, suggesting minimal operational damage. However, Trump insisted during a televised address that the “nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”
Gen. David W. Allvin, Air Force Chief of Staff; Photo- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | FlickrPolitical Fallout and Global Reactions
President Trump, flanked by key cabinet members including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, warned of “far greater” future strikes unless Iran agrees to a diplomatic resolution. Republican leaders largely backed the decision.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz commended the strike, while Democrats, including Senator Bernie Sanders, criticized it as unconstitutional and bypassing congressional approval.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of “everlasting consequences,” hinting at a strategic counter-response. The country has retained ballistic missile capabilities and could potentially target U.S. military installations across the Middle East, including the Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain (BAH).
Retaliation Scenarios and Regional Escalation
Security experts outline three main paths Iran might take: immediate retaliation, delayed asymmetrical response, or diplomatic restraint.
Retaliatory options include ballistic missile strikes on U.S. bases, drone swarms against naval assets, or targeting energy transit routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, through which a third of global oil flows.
In the hours following the U.S. strike, Iran launched missile salvos toward Israel (TLV), with reported explosions near Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem. These developments suggest a high probability of sustained regional escalation.
Background: A Week of Airstrikes
The latest U.S. strikes follow Israel’s surprise attack on June 13, targeting dozens of Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Israel cited Iran’s near capability to develop a nuclear weapon as the rationale.
Iran retaliated with a wave of rockets and drones, triggering a cycle of attacks that continues to escalate.
Trump had earlier given Iran a two-week deadline to return to nuclear talks, but action was taken within days. This preemptive strike contrasts with Trump’s prior campaign promises to avoid “endless wars,” highlighting the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy.
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Over 30 Airlines Suspend Flights Amid Israel-Iran Airstrikes
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