Airlines cleared out of the airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq and Jordan on Friday after Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers scrambling to divert and cancel flights to keep passengers and crew safe.

Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defense units stood on high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.

Israel’s flag carrier El Al Airlines said it had suspended flights to and from Israel. Several flights that were due to land either turned around or were diverted to Cyprus or Greece.

Both El Al and Israir said later Friday that they were moving their planes outside of Israel as the country braced for retaliation.

Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, and more of a........

© The Times of Israel