Qatar shuts down its airspace temporarily after the US and the UK embassies urged citizens to shelter in place. The move will likely affect key airline carrier Qatar Airways and comes amid rising regional tensions involving Iran and Hezbollah. (AP File Photo)
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Qatar has closed its airspace, halting operations of Qatar Airways, an important driver of East-West travel, according to a report published by The Associated Press. The move was announced Monday evening by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, which described the step as “temporary,” although no specific timeframe was provided for reopening at the time of writing this report.
“This is part of a series of precautionary measures taken in response to recent developments in the region,” the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on its state-run Qatar News Agency, as reported by the AP.
“Authorities are closely and continuously monitoring the situation, assessing developments in coordination with regional and international partners, and will provide the public with updated information in a timely manner through official channels,” the ministry added.
Earlier during the day, the US Embassy in Qatar had asked American citizens to “shelter in place until further notice.” The British Embassy also issued a similar warning just a few hours later.
Qatar, a strategically significant Gulf nation, is also home to Al Udeid Air Base, where the American military’s Central Command has its forward headquarters, per AP. While Iran, across the Persian Gulf, has threatened US troops stationed there in the past, it has not done so since Washington carried out an attack on Iranian targets last week.
Qatar is known to have diplomatic relations with Tehran and has a huge offshore natural gas field in common with Iran.
Tensions are flaring across the region, with Israeli fighter jets reported to be conducting a series of sorties over southern Lebanon, including over the Hezbollah stronghold of Apple province, Lebanese state media reported, according to AP.
While Israel has launched near-daily attacks since its November ceasefire with Hezbollah, Monday’s attacks were much more severe, the report said. The Israeli military confirmed the attacks, claiming that they hit rocket launchers and a cache of Hezbollah arms.
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