EU aviation agency extends Iraq airspace flight ban until July 8

TEL AVIV, Israel — BERLIN — The European Union aviation safety agency has extended its advisory urging operators to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran and Lebanon until July 8, citing continued uncertainty and the risk of sudden military escalation across conflict zones in the Middle East. The agency flagged the risk of civil aircraft being misidentified in the Tehran Flight Information Region. In Iraqi airspace, it said threats persist from air operations linked to the activities of armed groups operating inside the country. For Lebanon, the agency said airspace risk management remained insufficient and the danger level was high at all altitudes, despite relative calm between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. The Germany-based agency noted that Iran launched direct retaliatory strikes after the United States and Israel carried out intensive airstrikes on targets inside Iranian territory on February 28. A temporary ceasefire reached on April 8 was extended by 60 days under an agreement signed on June 17, the agency said, adding that the situation has moved from large-scale conflict to a high-tension phase in which violations could continue.