Qatar Airspace Opens, Flights Resume

Qatar’s airspace was closed late on Monday following Iran’s retaliatory missile barrage targeting the U.S.-operated Al Udeid Air Base near Doha. The skies over the Qatari capital were lit up with missile trails, captured in widely shared videos that caused alarm among residents and travellers. The closure led to a halt in commercial aviation operations across Doha’s Hamad International Airport. Qatar Airways, Emirates, Qantas, and several other international carriers were forced to cancel or divert flights mid-route, affecting thousands of passengers. By Tuesday morning, Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that airspace had been reopened and normal operations resumed.

The flight disruptions were severe. A Qantas Perth–Paris flight was forced to return after nearly 15 hours in the air. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended services but resumed them within hours of the reopening. Though most international carriers have reinstated flights, airlines have advised passengers to expect continued delays and rerouting until regional stability is assured.

The United States’ intervention in the war marked a dramatic escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict, leading to Iran launching its retaliatory missile attack on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Home to around 10,000 U.S. personnel, the base was targeted by six missiles. According to Qatari officials, five were intercepted while one landed without causing casualties or significant damage. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the strike as a “very weak response,” using the moment to call for a ceasefire.

Although Qatar condemned the attack as a violation of its sovereignty, Iran had reportedly warned Qatar, prompting it to close its airspace – as a mark of its historically amicable ties. While calm appears restored, the incident has placed Qatar in the uncomfortable position of balancing ties with Iran against its strategic partnership with the U.S.