Countries Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon reopen their airspace following exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran.
In the heart of the Middle East, all three neighbors of Israel—Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon—recently reopened their airspace after a day of closure following intense Israel-Iran skirmishes. While Jordan maintains formal diplomatic relations with Israel, Syria and Lebanon do not.
The current situation in Syria, long governed by Bashar al-Assad, a fervent ally of Iran, has greatly evolved as he was ousted in December by Islamist former rebels. Meanwhile, Lebanon, where militant group Hezbollah resides, experienced a war with Israel that ended in late 2024.
Since the conflict's conclusion, Lebanon's government has made arrangements for a ceasefire, under which Hezbollah is expected to relinquish its arsenal and vacate areas near the Israeli border. Jordan was the first to reopen its airspace at 7:30 am (0430 GMT), followed by Lebanon at 10:00 am (0700 GMT) and Syria's aviation authority's declaration for the reopening of their airspace to civilian aircraft.
historically, Jordan's unique geographical position, historical ties with West Bank (formerly under Jordanian administration), and strategic interests have made it an integral partner for Israel, particularly in handling regional security matters and engaging with Palestinian populations. The 1994 Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty established diplomatic ties and paved the way for peaceful coexistence, making Jordan a vital intermediary with Palestinians in the West Bank.
On the other hand, Syria and Israel have failed to foster formal diplomatic relations due to lingering tensions resulting from territorial disputes over the Golan Heights and opposing political alliances. Syria's ongoing internal strife and the conflict have added more complexity to the effort for diplomatic progress. Lebanon, with Hezbollah's strong influence and its held-hostile stance toward Israel, finds it difficult to establish formal diplomatic ties as well. The two countries have a volatile history, and there exists no obvious path toward normalization.
In essence, Jordan's strategic position, historical relationship with the West Bank, and the 1994 peace treaty have facilitated its diplomatic ties with Israel, while Syria and Lebanon face substantial obstacles on the road to similar relations.
The recent news about the reopening of airspaces in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon following Israel-Iran skirmishes has echoed politically, as each country navigates their unique relationships with Israel. While Jordan, a historically strategic partner of Israel, has maintained diplomatic relations, Syria and Lebanon, entangled in war-and-conflicts involving Israel, continue to struggle in their pursuit of formal diplomatic ties, with Syria's internal strife and Lebanon's volatile history with Israel making for a challenging general-news landscape.
