Airlines divert flights following Iran's strikes on Israel

Iran launched the strikes in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon

As Iran bombarded around 200 missiles into Israel on Tuesday evening, many flights sought diversions.

A spokesperson for tracking service FlightRadar24 told Reuters flights diverted "anywhere they could", and a snapshot of regional traffic showed flights spreading in wide arcs to the north and south, with many converging on Cairo and Istanbul.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways told Al Jazeera it is re-routing several of its flights in response to airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East. Etihad said it is continuously monitoring security and airspace updates as the situation develops. Emirates Airlines, Iran Air, Air Algerie, Air France and Turkish Airlines are some other airlines to have temporarily suspended flights to Beirut.

On Tuesday, about 80 flights, operated by the likes of Emirates, British Airways (ICAG.L), Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), Qatar Airways and bound for major Middle East hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, were diverted to places such as Cairo and European cities, its data showed as quoted by Reuters.

Many airlines have also suspended flights to the region or are avoiding use of affected air space.

Iran launched the strikes in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, and Israel vowed a "painful response" against its enemy.

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Earlier, Eurocontrol, a pan-European air traffic control agency, had warned pilots of the escalating conflict. "A major missile attack has been launched against Israel in the last few minutes," it said in an urgent navigation bulletin. "At present the entire country is under a missile warning." Shortly afterwards it announced the closure of Jordanian and Iraqi airspace, as well as the closure of a key crossing point into airspace controlled by Cyprus.

An Iraqi pilot bulletin told Reuters its Baghdad-controlled airspace was closed until further notice, due to security concerns.

Iraq's transport ministry later re-opened its airspace to civilian flights using its airports. On X, FlightRadar24 said, "It will be a while before flights are active there again." Jordan also re-opened its airspace after a closure following the volley of Iranian missiles towards Israel, the Jordanian state news agency said.

Lebanon's airspace will be closed to air traffic for a two-hour period on Tuesday, Transport Minister Ali Hamie said on X.

(With inputs from agencies)