live Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over U.S. blockade, state media says- Saturday 18 April
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has...
An evacuation flight operated by Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) carrying Azerbaijani citizens from Saudi Arabia has landed in Baku after widespread travel disruptions triggered by escalating conflict in the Middle East, AnewZ's Ilknur Seydamirova reported from Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
The AZAL aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, arrived at Heydar Aliyev International Airport on 4 March, bringing 209 Azerbaijani nationals safely back to the country after their flights were cancelled.
The flight comes amid rising regional tensions following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran, part of a widening confrontation that has triggered missile exchanges and heightened security concerns across the region.
The escalating conflict has led to airspace closures and the suspension of many commercial flights across parts of the Middle East, leaving thousands of travellers stranded and forcing airlines to reroute or cancel services.
In response, Azerbaijan organised a special return flight from the Saudi city of Jeddah to ensure the safe return of its citizens.
Officials say the national carrier is operating the evacuation in coordination with relevant authorities and in accordance with established safety procedures.
Additional flights from other destinations across the Middle East to Baku are expected to be organised in the coming days if travel disruptions continue.
For further information, travellers can contact the airline through its customer service email at callcenter@azal.az.
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
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