In the early hours of the 13th, as Israel launched the "Rising Lion" operation and bombed key military facilities in Iran, countries in the Middle East moved to close their airspace.
Voices of concern about the escalation of hostilities are increasing in the international community, including the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Iran, which was attacked, announced through its Civil Aviation Authority in the morning that "the airspace will be closed until further notice."
Israel, which carried out the attack, announced in a notice by the airport corporation that "Ben Gurion International Airport near the capital, Tel Aviv, will be closed until further notice." Israel closed its airspace to civilian flights. All flights arriving and departing from Ben Gurion Airport, the gateway to Tel Aviv, were canceled.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport also announced on the 13th that "Iraq's airspace is temporarily closed," leading to a complete suspension of air traffic. Jordan and Iraq are located between Iran and Israel.
According to a flight tracking website, dozens of commercial aircraft were in Iranian airspace during the Israeli airstrikes, the New York Times (NYT) reported. Following the Israeli attack, these aircraft hastily changed their routes and left the area.
Even within the U.S. political sphere, known for its pro-Israel stance, there were criticisms of the airstrikes.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island (Democratic Committee on Armed Services) said, "The shocking decision by Israel to conduct airstrikes against Iran is a reckless offensive that risks triggering a localized conflict."
He added, "This airstrike threatens not only innocent civilian lives but also the stability of the entire Middle East."
According to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, at least 12 civilians have died in the recent Israeli airstrike in Tehran.
The governments of Australia and New Zealand also immediately condemned the Israeli airstrikes.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated, "I am horrified by the escalation between Israel and Iran," and said it has the potential to make an already unstable region even more unstable.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed, "This airstrike is a major concern for the New Zealand government," and warned it could lead to a potential catastrophe in the Middle East.
According to the political media Axios, Australia and Israel were part of a group of five countries that imposed travel and financial sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers the day before.