A UK travel warning has been issued after Jordan closed its airspace as tensions between Israel and Iran reach an all-time high. Jordan will temporarily close its airspace for several hours beginning at 11 p.m. to all incoming, departing and transit aircraft, state-owned Al Mamlaka news said on Saturday.
Aviation authorities cited by Al Mamlaka said the situation would be “continuously updated and reviewed according to developments”. Earlier on Saturday, Al-Mamlaka quoted Haitham Misto, the chairman of Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, as saying interference in Jordanian air traffic had affected its GPS system.
It prompted planes in the area to use alternative navigation systems. Political reporter Barak Ravid took to X a short while ago to say: “Breaking: Iran launched an attack against Israel by launching drones, four American and Israeli sources told me.”
READ MORE Mum finds Apple AirTag placed on nine-year-old son with ‘chilling’ engraving
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed he spoke to Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi about events unfolding in the Middle East. He said: “During the call, I reiterated the United States’ ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.”
The White House announced on Saturday that Joe Biden was returning to Washington from out of town “to consult with his national security team about events in the Middle East” amid heightened tension between Israel and Iran.
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the US strongly condemned the seizure and urged Iran to release the ship and crew immediately. “We will work with our partners to hold Iran to account for its actions,” she said, warning that “seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law and an act of piracy.”.
Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, spoke with Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, on Saturday to discuss urgent regional threats in the Middle East and “reiterated unwavering US support for Israel’s defense”, according to the Pentagon.
