Middle East Conflict: Disruptions Update

Foreign embassies across the Middle East have expanded travel advisories amid escalating hostilities. Some diplomatic representations have closed in response to the armed conflict. Advisories continue to be updated near-daily.

Airspace conditions across the region remain fluid and subject to rapid change with minimal notice. Even open airspace is subject to disruptions in response to increased demand, security developments, and assessments.

Airline operations remain significantly disrupted due to ongoing airspace closures and security restrictions. Carriers continue to suspend or reroute services to affected destinations in the Middle East.

Commercial shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly reduced amid ongoing conflict conditions, with several major shipping lines suspending transits and some maritime insurers withdrawing or sharply increasing war risk coverage for operations in the Persian Gulf.

US Central Command confirmed that US forces destroyed Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz following reports that Iran had begun deploying naval mines in the waterway.

Electronic navigation interference continues to be reported in and around the Strait, increasing maritime risk.

Land border crossings between the UAE/Oman, the UAE/Saudi Arabia, Qatar/Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain/Saudi Arabia are open but may be disrupted by high volumes of cross-border traffic. The Arida border crossing between Syria and Lebanon has reopened for one-way pedestrian movement from Lebanon into Syria only; vehicle transit remains suspended due to bridge damage.

Turkiye and Iran have continued to maintain restrictions on passenger day-trip crossings at the three border gates along their shared frontier. Turkish authorities are permitting Turkish citizens and third-country nationals to enter from Iran, while Iranian authorities are allowing Iranian nationals to return.

The Israel–Egypt border crossing at Eilat–Taba (Menachem Begin–Taba border crossing) is operational.

The Israel–Jordan border crossings – Yitzhak Rabin (Wadi Araba), Allenby Bridge (King Hussein Bridge), and Jordan River (Sheikh Hussein Bridge) – remain open Sunday–Friday with reduced hours on Fridays and are closed on Saturdays. Reduced weekday hours apply at the Jordan River (Sheikh Hussein Bridge) crossing during Ramadan (through March 18).

Trade-related activities remain operational under regulated conditions; however, further restrictions may occur if security conditions deteriorate. 

Select major conflict developments in the last 12–24 hours are included below:

• Bahrain: Airspace closed. 
• Cyprus: Airspace open. However, conflict-related disruptions continue to affect flight operations.
• Egypt: Airspace open. However, significant flight disruptions continue, with over 80 cancellations reported at Cairo International Airport (CAI) and other airports due to regional airspace restrictions.
• Iran: Airspace closed.
• Iraq: Airspace closed. On March 13, the Lanaz oil refinery in Erbil was reportedly targeted by a drone attack; Iraqi officials subsequently stated that damage to the facility was limited. On March 13, a reported attack targeted the US coalition base at Al-Harir in Erbil; further details on damage or casualties remain unconfirmed. 
• Israel: Airspace gradually reopening; flight operations remain extremely limited at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), with many foreign carriers continuing to suspend service. Early March 13, a new wave of Iranian missiles targeted Israel. A residential building was struck in Zarzir, injuring dozens of people and causing damage to nearby buildings and vehicles. Multiple red alert sirens were activated across northern Israel, amid continued aerial threat warnings along the Lebanese border.
• Jordan: Airspace open. Early March 13, Iranian missiles were reportedly intercepted near Irbid, and another missile was reportedly sighted near Aqaba. No casualties or damage have been confirmed.
• Kuwait: Airspace closed. As of March 13, Kuwait International Airport (KWI) remains closed and national airspace continues to be suspended to civilian traffic following the Iranian drone strike that targeted the airport on March 12. Commercial flight operations remain suspended pending further notice.
• Lebanon: Airspace open. On March 13, Israeli airstrikes expanded across multiple areas of the country. In Sidon (Ain al-Hilweh area), at least 10 people were killed and more than 12 others injured after a residential building was struck. Airstrikes were also reported in Hermel, Froun, and Qlaileh.
• Oman: Airspace open. On March 13, at least two foreign nationals were killed and several others injured following a reported drone strike in the Falaj al-Awhi industrial area of Sohar. Earlier on March 13, the US Embassy in Muscat issued nationwide shelter-in-place guidance. Authorities also evacuated ships from the Mina Al Fahal oil terminal as a precautionary measure. Oman Air (WY) has canceled flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS) through at least March 22 due to continued regional airspace closures.
• Qatar: Airspace remains closed, with only limited flights operating via emergency routes. 
• Saudi Arabia: Airspace open, with partial closures near areas bordering Iraq and Persian Gulf, which are not affecting commercial flights from Riyadh International Airport (RUH), Jeddah International Airport (JED) and Damman international Airport (DMM). On March 13, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that air defenses intercepted several drones and missiles in Saudi airspace. Air travel disruptions continue, with KLM (KL) suspending flights to Riyadh through March 28 and Cathay Pacific (CX) suspending flights to Riyadh through March 31.
• Syria: Airspace closed, except for the Aleppo–Mediterranean air corridor and Aleppo International Airport (ALP). On March 13, a large explosion was reported near Brigade 68 headquarters in the Khan al-Sheh area of Rif Dimashq Governorate. Separately, on March 13, a loud explosion with plumes of smoke was reported in the eastern neighborhoods of Homs; the cause and any potential casualties have not yet been confirmed.
• Turkiye: Airspace open. On March 13, the Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed that NATO air defenses intercepted a third ballistic missile fired from Iran into Turkish airspace. 
• UAE: Airspace partially closed; limited flight operations continue at Dubai International (DXB), Dubai World Central–Al Maktoum International (DWC), and Abu Dhabi International (AUH) airports. On March 13, authorities confirmed that debris from a successful interception caused minor damage to the facade of a building in central Dubai. Australia has directed nonessential government staff to leave the UAE and Israel and has urged its nationals to depart the Middle East. Air travel disruptions continue, with Cathay Pacific suspending flights to Dubai (DXB) through March 31, and Lufthansa (LH) and KLM (KL) suspending Dubai services through March 28. A major international bank has closed its UAE branches through at least March 14.

Do not travel to the Middle East until the situation stabilizes. Maintain close contact with diplomatic representations and heed all directives. For persons in active conflict areas, shelter in place until the situation stabilizes, and establish and maintain close contact with your organization or security provider.

Reconfirm all transportation services. Prepare for delays. Do not attempt to self-evacuate to the airport while airspace is closed or during heightened alert periods. Plan for delayed departure and backlogs even after reopening; keep bookings flexible.

For the most up-to-date alerts and information, access Crisis24 Horizon 24/7. 

If you are in the region, Crisis24 has the capabilities to provide your organization with secure transportation, personal protection, critical supplies, internal relocations and evacuation, contingency planning, and medical assistance.