Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that the country’s airspace will remain closed to all incoming, outgoing, and transit flights for an additional 72 hours, citing ongoing security concerns and escalating regional developments.

According to a statement carried by the Iraqi state news agency, the extension will take effect from 12:00 p.m. local time on Saturday and remain in place until 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Officials described the decision as a temporary precautionary measure, taken after continued assessments of the security situation in the region. The authority emphasized that the closure is subject to review and may change depending on further developments.

The aviation authority also confirmed that airlines and relevant aviation bodies will be promptly notified of any updates regarding the status of Iraqi airspace.

This latest extension marks the 29th day since Iraq first shut down its airspace on February 28, shortly after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran. Since then, Iraqi authorities have repeatedly reviewed and prolonged the closure due to the volatile security environment across the Middle East.

Since the start of the conflict, Iran has launched attacks on several US military facilities and allied positions across the Gulf region, including locations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Meanwhile, Israeli air defense systems have reportedly intercepted many of the incoming missiles and drones, though the conflict has continued to widen beyond direct military confrontations.

Regional analysts note that the confrontation has increasingly involved proxy groups and allied armed factions operating in multiple countries, raising concerns that the conflict could further destabilize the broader Middle East.