TEL AVIV, Saturday, February 28, 2026 (WNP): Israeli authorities ordered the evacuation of passengers from Ben Gurion Airport and suspended all civilian flights Saturday after Iranian missile strikes targeted Israeli territory as part of a widening military confrontation that has also disrupted regional air travel.

The Transportation Ministry announced a complete halt to flight operations at the airport, urging passengers to avoid the terminals and to remain in contact with airlines for updates.

Several aircraft, including an Air India flight, were left grounded with passengers on board when the closure took effect.

As airspace over Israel was closed, emergency responders assisted in evacuating travelers and staff from the airport. Many passengers were seen leaving terminals on foot, some carrying luggage, amid heightened security and ongoing alert sirens in the region.

The evacuation comes amid an unprecedented wave of Iranian ballistic missile attacks launched in retaliation for a major U.S.–Israeli military strike earlier in the day. Iranian missiles have struck various parts of central Israel, prompting frequent air raid warnings and forcing civilians into shelters.

Israel’s air defense systems have intercepted numerous projectiles, but some missiles have still caused damage and injuries.

Israeli emergency services reported multiple injuries from the strikes in the Tel Aviv area, and authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency, closing schools, banning public gatherings and relocating hospital patients to protected facilities.

The closure and evacuation at Israel’s main international gateway are part of a broader regional crisis that has also impacted Gulf aviation hubs and led to hundreds of flight cancellations and reroutings. Airspace closures across the Middle East have thrown global air travel into disarray, with major carriers suspending operations to and from the region.