The Qatar’s aviation authority has announced that the country’s airspace will partially reopenfollowing its closure due to a retaliatory Iranian missile and drone campaign after US-Israeli strikes in the Middle East.
The Qatar’s aviation authority stated that the resumption of air navigation will be limited to designated contingency routes with restricted operational capacity.
The initial phase will allow a limited number of passenger evacuation flights as well as air cargo operations.
Hamad International Airport, Qatar’s main hub, confirmed the limited flights will begin on Saturday, March 7, specifically to evacuate stranded passengers and handle cargo.
The airport noted that additional flights in the coming days will depend on ongoing assessments of the regional security situation.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, as the ongoing war in the Middle East has disrupted travel to what is normally considered a stable and safe destination.
Earlier on Friday, Qatar’s defence ministry reported that its territory had been targeted by 10 Iranian drones, nine of which were intercepted by its military. One drone struck an uninhabited area, causing no casualties.
On Tuesday, Qatar also confirmed that Hamad International Airport had been targeted in previous Iranian attacks, all of which were successfully thwarted.
