The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Monday temporarily suspended its scheduled flights to Gulf countries after Iran’s retaliatory strike on US base in Qatar escalated tensions in the Middle East.
The national flag-carrier announced the suspension of flights to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Dubai amid an escalating military situation, a spokesperson said.
This development came after several Gulf countries were put on high alert following Iran’s missile attacks on the US military base in Qatar in response to the American air strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites.
“Flights will resume after the situation returns to normal,” the statement read. The spokesperson asked the passengers who were scheduled to travel via different flights to stay updated about their flight status by contacting the PIA call centre.
It added that the airline’s reservation department started transferring the travellers’ bookings to alternative flights.
Prior to the Iranian attack, Qatar announced today that it had shut down its airspace temporarily, hours after US and British authorities contacted their citizens there recommending that they shelter in place until further notice.
Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command and accommodates approximately 10,000 troops.
The Gulf is home to several US military bases.
Bahrain also temporarily shut its airspace after the Iranian attack in Qatar.
Bahrain is home to the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, whose area of responsibility includes the Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, Kuwait closed its airspace temporarily until further notice amid regional escalation
Kuwait Airways also suspended flight departures from the country due to regional developments, it said in a post on X.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways says it is re-routing several flights on June 23 and June 24 in response to airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East, Reuters reported.
Earlier today, Iran’s National Security Council confirmed it had attacked a major US military base in Qatar on Monday in retaliation for American strikes on its nuclear facilities, adding its response did not “pose any threat” to its Gulf neighbour.
“In response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar,” the council said in a statement
It added that the number of missiles used “was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities”.
“This action does not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country, Qatar,” it added.
In response, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari termed the Iranian attack on al-Udeid base a “violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace and the UN charter,” according to Al Jazeera.
“We, in the State of Qatar, reserve our right to respond directly … to this blatant aggression in accordance with international law,” al-Ansari said in a statement.
He added that Qatari air defences foiled the attack and successfully confronted the Iranian missiles.
— With additional input from Reuters, AFP
