Baghdad: Iraq has extended the closure of its airspace for 48 hours, while Jordan announced a partial daily shutdown, civil aviation authorities in both countries said Monday, citing escalating regional tensions.

According to Anadolu Agency, Iraq's Civil Aviation Authority announced that it would maintain the country's airspace closure to all arriving, departing, and overflying aircraft for an additional 48 hours starting at 12 pm local time (0900 GMT) on Monday. This measure has been described as 'temporary and precautionary' in response to the current situation.

The statement, carried by Iraq's state news agency INA, indicated that the decision was made following 'an ongoing assessment of the security situation and a comprehensive review of developments and regional tensions.' The initial closure of Iraq's airspace began on Saturday, in the wake of a US-Israeli offensive against Iran.

Meanwhile, Jordan's Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission issued a statement detailing its decision to implement a 'partial and temporary' closure of the kingdom's airspace. This measure affects all arriving, departing, and transit flights and is based on 'current regional developments and a risk assessment conducted in accordance with international standards.'

The Jordanian airspace closure is scheduled to occur from 6 pm local time (1500 GMT) until 9 am (0600 GMT) the following day, and will remain in effect until further notice to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation within Jordanian airspace, as stated by the commission.

These developments come in the context of a military offensive launched by Israel and the United States against Iran since early Saturday. This offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 550 people, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top military officials.

In response, Tehran has launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and US bases across the region. Some of these retaliatory attacks have led to casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, drawing condemnation from Gulf countries, which have called for an end to the hostilities.

Washington and Tel Aviv have accused Tehran of pursuing nuclear and missile programs that pose a threat to Israel and US allies in the region. However, Iran asserts that its nuclear program is peaceful and denies any intention of developing nuclear weapons.