- Egypt bans flights over Tehran next night
Egypt has banned its airlines from flying over the Iranian capital Tehran for Thursday night. "All Egyptian airlines should avoid flights over Teheran," said a security notice from the Egyptian civil aviation authority. Plans for flights over this area will be rejected. The instruction is valid from 3 am Thursday (MESZ) for three hours.
Such a notice from Egypt is "very unusual," wrote the OPS Group, which informs its members about risks and changes in international air traffic. "It is possible that this is a sign of an Iranian response to Israel," the group wrote, referring to a possible upcoming attack that has been speculated about for days. In such a case, there could be many disruptions in air traffic.
Previously, Jordan had already prepared its airspace for a possible Iranian attack on Israel. All incoming aircraft were temporarily asked to refuel with enough fuel for an additional 45 minutes of flight. An Iranian attack against Israel could also take place in the sky over Jordan, as it did in April.
After the killing of Hamas' external chief Ismail Haniyah in Iran and the killing of a military commander of the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, the danger of a major war in the Middle East has increased significantly. Iran, Hezbollah, and the Islamist Hamas have announced retaliation against Israel.
The Commission has issued a notice to Egyptian airlines, advising them to avoid flights over Teheran due to potential tensions. This decision could be a response to possible Iranian actions against Israel, as suggested by the OPS Group.
