Flights suspended, travel warnings issued after strikes on Iran
Australians have been urged to leave Iran and warned against flying to the region as travel chaos erupts across the Middle East.
Airlines have suspended flights across the Middle East, including to and from the world’s busiest travel hub, Dubai, after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
Flight maps showed airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain virtually empty after the strikes began, and Iran retaliated with missiles.
Australia upgraded its travel advice for Israel and Lebanon to ‘do not travel’. A diplomatic crisis centre has been established.
Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended all flight operations until the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority safely reopens airspace.
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“Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Dubai Airports suspended all flights at Dubai International and at Al Maktoum International until further notice, urging passengers not to travel.
Emirates and flydubai temporarily halted operations, while Etihad suspended all departures from Abu Dhabi until 1000 GMT (9pm AEDT) on Sunday.
Emirates has advised all travellers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport and to contact theri travel agency for rebooking or requesting a refund.
The airline said it was actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities.
“The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” Emirates said in a statement.
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It comes as Australia throws its support behind the people of Iran amid the coordinated US and Israel attacks against the nation.
Explosions and air strikes have targeted Tehran, pushing the Middle East into another hugely consequential conflict.
In a statement, the prime minister said Australia stood with the people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.
“For decades, the Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, through its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, support for armed proxies, and brutal acts of violence and intimidation,” Anthony Albanese said.
Australia and its international partners called on the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights of its citizens, Albanese said.
“These calls have gone unheeded,” he said.
“Instead, the regime has instigated a brutal crackdown on its own people leaving thousands of Iranian civilians dead.
“A regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy.”
Albanese also pointed to recent Iranian attacks on Australian soil, including those targeting Jewish communities.
He described Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to global peace and security.
“We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security,” the prime minister said.
-with AAP
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