DOHA: Qatar has temporarily closed its airspace due to growing tensions in the region, the Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement on Monday.
According to the ministry, the decision has been taken as a precaution to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors. “The temporary closure aims to protect the population amid an increasingly unstable regional situation,” the statement added.
At the time of Qatar’s announcement, flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that Qatar is temporarily closing its airspace “in order to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.” It also noted that there were currently 100 flights en route to Doha.
Earlier, the United States, United Kingdom, and China advised their citizens in Qatar to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement due to security concerns.
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This move comes amid rising tensions following recent U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, after which Iran threatened retaliation.
International media reports state that Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base remains the largest American military facility in the Middle East, with nearly 10,000 U.S. troops stationed there
