Ankara: Iran suspended flights at Mehrabad airport in Tehran and at airports in Kermanshah, Mashhad, and Shiraz on Monday following Israeli attacks that targeted several sites across the country, according to local media reports. The decision to halt flights was announced as a precautionary measure and will remain in effect until further notice.

According to Anadolu Agency, the suspension affected all flights originating from these airports, with the semi-official Mehr News Agency reporting that flights from Mashhad to Tehran and to central and western regions of Iran have been canceled. Although Mashhad’s Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport remains operational, the cancellations have disrupted travel plans for many passengers.

The state broadcaster IRIB, referencing information from Fakhreddin Keshavarz, the general manager of airports in the Fars province, highlighted that all flights at Shiraz’s Shahid Ayatollah Dastgheib Airport in southwestern Iran have been canceled until 11.15 pm local time (1945GMT) due to the “current circumstances.” In Kermanshah, air defenses were reportedly activated when ‘hostile targets’ were detected in the airspace, adding to the heightened state of alert.

These developments come amid rising tensions in the region. On Sunday, Israel conducted bombings in Beirut, Lebanon, despite a prevailing ceasefire, leading to Iranian missile retaliation targeting northern Israel. In response, Israel launched several waves of airstrikes against Iran. This escalation follows a period of strain that began in late February when US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran triggered retaliatory actions from Iran against Israel and other regional nations hosting US assets.

The situation remains volatile, with a temporary ceasefire achieved on April 8. However, subsequent negotiations have stalled due to disputes over its implementation and evolving regional dynamics.