Airlines cancel flights as U.S., Israel launch strikes in Iran

The United States and Israel launched what is described as a major combat operation in Iran early this morning, targeting multiple sites in the country. In response, reports indicate that Iran has launched strikes on Israel as well as in Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait.

Airlines have now canceled or suspended flights to the region, with Air Canada advising passengers that: “Due to the military situation in the Middle East, we have canceled today’s flights to and from Dubai.”

And Air Canada continued: “No flight was planned to or from Tel Aviv today. We are monitoring the situation and will adjust our schedule accordingly. Customers can go to http://aircanada.com for updates.”

Other major airlines have also cancelled flights as Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspace as a result of the U.S. and Israel’s joint operation Iran.

In a statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that: “The Canadian government is closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East and urges all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place. Canadians in the wider region should follow local advice and take all necessary precautions.”