Amid significant political unrest in the Middle East, WWE will travel to Saudi Arabia this week for back-to-back shows in Riyadh.
Just days after the U.S. bombed multiple nuclear facilities in Iran, the Middle East is reacting to the news with several flight warnings for regions, including Saudi Arabia.
From Reuters:
Carriers are likely avoiding airports in UAE and Qatar and, to a lesser extent, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, due to concerns that Iran or its proxies will target drone or missile attacks on U.S. military bases in these countries, aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions said.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Air France also cancelled flights to Riyadh and said it would suspend flights to and from Beirut, Lebanon until Wednesday included.
On Monday, Iran launched a missile attack on the Al Udeid Air Base, a U.S. military base in Qatar. The U.S. base has approximately 10,000 troops stationed, but no casualties were reported with Qatar’s defense ministry stated that its air defenses intercepted the missile attack.
From the New York Times:
Saudi Arabia has condemned “in the strongest terms” Iran’s attack in Qatar, calling it “a flagrant violation of international law,” Saudi state television reported. Saudi Arabia has been cultivating closer ties with Iran, long a strategic rival, over the past few years. But the attack on the Qatar, which the kingdom shares a border with, could test those warming relations.
WWE has made no indications of any changes to this week’s events, with talent and personnel set to fly to Riyadh later this week.
