Immigration

Middle East | Israel and Iran escalation and regional airspace disruptions

Summary

US and Israel have today launched air and missile strikes on multiple targets within Iran, including locations in and around Tehran. Iran has reportedly responded with missile and drone activity directed toward Israel. Regional tensions are escalating and the security environment remains fluid. 

Israeli officials have confirmed the strikes and declared a national state of emergency. Iranian authorities have reported explosions in major cities and indicated that further responses may follow. At this present time, there are multiple reports of sirens and blasts heard in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, and there is a risk of escalation across the region including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkiye and Yemen.

The detail

Infrastructure, airspace and flight disruptions

Critical updates that we are monitoring closely are as follows:

• Both Iran and Israel have closed civilian airspace, and several neighbouring flight information regions are being avoided or restricted.
• Airspace closures have been implemented across the GCC countries, including partial airspace closure in the UAE, as well as closures/ restrictions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Syria. We may see the expansion of airspace closures/ restrictions in other locations across the region.
• Major carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have announced flight cancellations, rerouting and temporary suspensions on selected routes. Further schedule changes remain possible at short notice.
• Delays and diversions are expected on Europe-Asia and transatlantic routes that typically transit regional airspace.
• There are also reports of disruption to road infrastructure.

Travel advisories and government actions

In recent days, governments including Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom updated travel advice for parts of the region, and several nations have advised against non-essential travel to affected areas. Some diplomatic personnel have reportedly been relocated or withdrawn. 

Following the most recent developments, some governments have updated their advisories to advise against all travel to the region, including Iran, Israel and Palestine. This also includes advice for those in Bahrain, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and UAE to remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.

These advisories are likely to change as the situation in the region evolves.

Recommended actions

We propose the following immediate actions, and our Vialto teams are here to support you as you assess your employee populations and issue communications across your business:

• Residents across GCC countries including the UAE and Qatar, and neighbouring countries, have been advised via Embassy alerts (including the UAE, US and Australia) to remain indoors until further notice.
• Travellers in or transiting the Middle East should check directly with airlines for real-time updates prior to departure.
• Employers and employees across the Middle East should monitor official government travel advisories relevant to their jurisdiction.
• Organisations with personnel in the region should review contingency planning, crisis management protocols and business continuity arrangements. This may include working from home or abroad arrangements until further notice.
• Reach out to your employee populations in affected countries, and those who may be travelling to/ from the Middle East.
• Appropriate travel, medical and evacuation coverage should be confirmed for any essential travel.

Outlook

The situation remains volatile and further escalation cannot be ruled out. Additional airspace restrictions, travel disruptions and government advisories may be implemented with limited notice. We are monitoring developments closely and will provide further updates as additional confirmed information becomes available.

If you require any immediate assistance or have any questions, please contact any one of our Crisis Support team at crisis_support@vialto.com, or reach out to your Vialto contacts listed below:

Sharan Kundi
Partner

Anir Chatterji
Partner

Rekha Simpson
Director

Hugo Vijge
Director

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