Qatar temporarily closes airspace amid rising regional tensions

Qatar has announced a temporary closure of its airspace as a precautionary measure to protect its citizens, residents, and visitors amid escalating regional security concerns.

“In line with the State of Qatar’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its people and visitors, the competent authorities have declared a temporary suspension of all air traffic within the country’s airspace. This is part of a comprehensive set of security measures in response to recent developments in the region,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.

Qatar hosts the strategically important Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military base in the Middle East and the headquarters of the US Central Command. In light of rising tensions, the US embassy in Qatar had previously urged American citizens to seek shelter until further notice. On June 19, it also advised diplomatic personnel to remain vigilant and temporarily restricted access to the Al Udeid base.

By Naila Huseynova