Bahrainis stranded in Iraq begin journey home as airspace closes

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrainis stranded in Iraq have begun making their way out by road after the Iraqi government shut down its airspace in the wake of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets.

The Iraqi Ministry of Transport confirmed the move, saying, “All flights were halted and airspace sealed off,” describing it as a precautionary measure. The closure applies to all airports in Iraq and will remain in effect until further notice.

Bahrainis safe Bahrain’s ambassador to Iraq, Khalid Al Mansour, said all Bahrainis in the country are safe.

The embassy, he added, is maintaining close contact with Bahraini religious tour groups. While a few people remain, many have already left Iraq, either by flying out on Gulf Air before the closures or by crossing the border by land.

Similar repatriation efforts have been launched by other Gulf states as tensions across the region escalate.

Flights cancelled

Airlines across the Middle East have begun cancelling flights or diverting routes, citing multiple airspace closures:

• Emirates, the region’s largest airline, said it had cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran, with several Friday services and a Tehran-bound flight on Saturday listed as cancelled.

• Qatar Airways, another major regional carrier, said it had “temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to the current situation”.

• UAE airports also reported disruptions. Dubai Airport warned via social media that “some flights at @ DXB and DWC – Al Maktoum International have been cancelled or delayed” due to airspace restrictions over Iran and Syria.

• AbuDhabi Airport said “Flight disruptions are expected through today (Friday)” as a result of the regional escalation.

• Kuwait’s civil aviation authority reported that “some flights at Kuwait International Airport have been diverted, cancelled, or rescheduled.”

Earlier Friday, Jordan announced a full airspace closure and suspended flights following the Israeli strikes. Jordan’s military said it had intercepted drones and missiles that violated its airspace after Iran vowed an aggressive response to what it called a “declaration of war” by Israel. Authorities are urging citizens in affected areas to remain in contact with their embassies and check with airlines for travel updates.