Cologne, Germany – March 2, 2026 – The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced on Monday an extension of its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) covering airspace in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region until March 6, 2026. The decision reflects heightened and persistent security risks stemming from the ongoing large-scale military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
EASA originally issued the advisory on Saturday, February 28, 2026—the same day joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran commenced—with an initial validity period through March 2. The extension, detailed in an updated bulletin, maintains the agency’s recommendation that operators exercise extreme caution, conduct thorough risk assessments, and consider rerouting flights to avoid high-risk airspace where possible. The bulletin applies to civil aviation operations over or near conflict-affected territories, including parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and associated international waters in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
The extension follows a dramatic escalation that began early Saturday when US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes—codenamed Operation Epic Fury—targeting Iranian nuclear-related facilities, ballistic missile production sites, air defense systems, naval assets, command centers, and leadership compounds. The operation resulted in the confirmed deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other senior Iranian officials, dealing a severe blow to the country’s leadership structure.
Iran responded with multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting US military installations across the Gulf region, including bases in Bahrain (Fifth Fleet headquarters), the United Arab Emirates (Al Minhad Air Base), Kuwait (Camp Arifjan), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Israeli territory. US Central Command confirmed that four American service members were killed and four others seriously injured in these retaliatory attacks. Satellite imagery analyzed by independent sources has verified significant damage to several US facilities.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported on Monday that the death toll from US-Israeli airstrikes across Iran has risen to at least 555, with many casualties described as civilians caught in or near targeted military and leadership sites. Iranian authorities have highlighted strikes on or near civilian infrastructure, including a school in Minab city, Hormozgan province, where at least 165 people—mostly children and school staff—were reportedly killed.
The current crisis follows a pattern of intensifying confrontations. In 2025, a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran saw the United States directly join Israeli operations, conducting strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. Those events disrupted earlier diplomatic efforts and contributed to the breakdown of indirect US-Iran talks on the nuclear program.
Despite the military escalation, indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran—mediated by Oman—had continued until recently. The most recent round of discussions in Geneva concluded on Thursday, February 26, 2026, just days before the strikes began. US officials have described the operation as necessary to neutralize what they term “grave threats” from Iran’s missile capabilities, proxy networks, and nuclear ambitions, while Iranian leaders have condemned the attacks as unprovoked aggression violating sovereignty and international law.
EASA’s bulletin extension underscores the severe implications for civil aviation. The agency cited risks including missile interceptions, debris from defensive actions, electronic warfare interference, and the potential for misidentification or collateral damage in congested airspace. Operators are advised to monitor real-time updates, consult national authorities, and implement robust contingency planning. Several major airlines have already canceled or rerouted flights to and from Gulf hubs, with airspace closures and restrictions reported across multiple countries.
The advisory aligns with similar warnings from other aviation authorities, including the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has issued heightened alerts for the region, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which has urged close coordination among states.
As the conflict enters its fifth day, US President Donald Trump has projected that Operation Epic Fury could last four to five weeks or longer, emphasizing continued operations to destroy Iran’s missile infrastructure, navy, and nuclear-related capabilities. Iranian officials have vowed sustained retaliation, while international calls for de-escalation grow louder. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have all engaged in diplomatic outreach to push for a ceasefire, with varying degrees of condemnation or mediation offers.
The EASA extension serves as a stark reminder of the broader fallout from the crisis, extending beyond military and political spheres to impact global connectivity, trade routes, energy security, and the safety of civilian air travel. With civilian casualties mounting and the risk of wider regional involvement persisting, aviation stakeholders continue to monitor developments closely, prioritizing passenger and crew safety amid an increasingly volatile security environment.
