Egyptian airspace maintains normal operations amid Iran’s missile attack on Israel

CAIRO – 2 October 2024: The Egyptian airspace remains secure and is operating normally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement, providing reassurance to travelers in the aftermath of a significant missile attack by Iran on Israel on Tuesday.

The ministry emphasized that Egyptian airspace continues to function with the highest safety standards and is experiencing regular air traffic operations.

The ministry also highlighted ongoing coordination with neighboring countries after Jordan and Iran closed their airspace due to the unfolding events in the region.

Specifically, the ministry mentioned that EgyptAir flight MS 701, scheduled from Cairo to Amman, had to return to Cairo International Airport due to Jordan’s closure of its airspace.

Both EgyptAir and Cairo airport's public relations teams accommodated the affected passengers and offered necessary assistance, the statement said.

Cairo airport has been placed on high alert as it may receive additional aircraft diverting from closed airspace in neighboring countries.

The ministry urged customers traveling to Baghdad, Erbil, and Jordan to check their flight reservations, promising continuous updates on the evolving situation.

Heavy retaliation

On Tuesday, Iran launched nearly 200 missiles at Israeli military targets, marking its most substantial military offensive against Israel, and around double the size of a previous Iranian missile attack last April.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said the assault comes in retaliation for the Israeli assassinations of leader of Lebanese Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah near Beirut on Friday and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last July.

The assaults occurred amid Israeli forces killing of nearly 1,900 individuals and injuring of over 9,000 others in Israel-Hezbollah cross-border clashes since the beginning of the Israeli war in Gaza in October 2023, as per Lebanese government data.

The majority of the casualties took place within the last two weeks, coinciding with Israel's extensive airstrikes throughout Lebanon and the commencement of a ground offensive in southern Lebanon on Monday.

With escalating tensions in the region, Egypt, the United Nations, and global leaders have repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 41,600 Palestinians, to mitigate growing unrest in the Middle East.

Despite international appeals for de-escalation, Israel has persisted in its military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and against the Houthis in Yemen, heightening concerns of a broader conflict.

Israel vows ‘painful’ response

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a strong response to Iran’s actions following an emergency security meeting, while Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, warned, “Iran will soon feel the consequences of their actions. The response will be painful.”

The White House echoed these sentiments, promising severe consequences for Iran, with spokesman Jake Sullivan stating at a Washington briefing that the United States would collaborate with Israel to ensure this outcome.

The Israeli military claimed that the majority of missiles launched by Iran were intercepted "by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States."

Meanwhile, the IRGC announced that Iranian forces deployed hypersonic Fattah missiles for the first time in the attack, with 90% of the missiles successfully hitting their targets in Israel.

Iran's Foreign Minister promised a "stronger and more powerful" response if Israel provokes further retaliation.

The European Union called for a ceasefire across the border with Lebanon, and in Gaza and the United Nations Security Council arranged a meeting regarding the Middle East conflict for Wednesday.