Get you up to speed: Austria blocks US warplanes from using its airspace for operations against Iran
American fighter jets will not be allowed to use Austrian airspace for missions against Iran, as stated by Austria’s Ministry of Defence. This decision is based on Austria’s neutrality law, which prohibits the country from joining military alliances or allowing foreign military bases on its territory.
Austria’s Ministry of Defence announced that the US will not be allowed to use its airspace for military operations against Iran, citing the country’s neutrality law that prohibits participation in military alliances like NATO. Sven Hergovich, head of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), stated, “the defence minister should ‘not approve a single further US military flight to the Gulf.’”
Austria has blocked the US from using its airspace for military operations against Iran due to its neutrality law, which prohibits participation in military alliances and hosting foreign military bases. Sven Hergovich, head of the Social Democratic Party, has called for the defence minister to reject any further US military flights.
Austria blocks US war planes from using its airspace during Iran war | News World
Warplanes involved in the Operation Epic Fury against Iran will not be allowed to enter Austria airspace (Picture: US Central Command)
American fighter jets will not be allowed to use the Austrian airspace for missions against Iran.
The Alpine nation has reportedly blocked the US from using its airspace after an announcement by its Ministry of Defence today.
Austria said the US will not have permission for military operations against Iran.
This is due to the country’s neutrality law, which bans Austria from joining any military alliances like Nato or allowing foreign military bases on its territory.
While the ministry didn’t reveal the number of inquiries from the US, it said there has been ‘several,’ according to the Austrian publication ORF.
However, individual cases would be reviewed together with the Austrian foreign ministry.
Sven Hergovich, the head of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), which is part of the coalition, said the defence minister should ‘not approve a single further US military flight to the Gulf.’
He said: ‘Nor should she approve any transport flights or other logistical support. Just as Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland are doing. This war is damaging Austrian economic interests, Europe as a whole, and world peace.’
It comes after Spain decided to block US warplanes from its airpaces involved in Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East.
Spain blocked US fighter jets stationed in third countries like the UK and France from using its airspace.
Meanwhile, the UK has allowed American aircraft to use British bases, namely RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, in some operations against Iran.
Footage from the US Central Command shows the military targeting Iranian assets (Picture: X/CENTCOM)
However, the bases can be used only for defensive operations that halt Iran from putting British interests or lives at risk.
Despite the move, Donald Trump has not minced his words against the UK and European leaders after he accused them of not getting involved in its quest against Iran.
Donald Trump has not been pleased with his NATO allies (Picture: Getty Images)
The US president wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday in a scathing post that ‘all of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran’ should buy oil from the US.
Trump’s anger towards US allies has ramped up since the start of the joint US-Israel war against Iran and the refusal of many countries to get directly involved in the conflict.
He called NATO a ‘paper tiger’ and ‘terrible,’ and even hinted at he is thinking of pulling out of the alliance.
What is the Austrian neutrality law?
Austria was named a neutral state following the atrocities of the Second World War, which had seen the country annexed as part of Nazi Germany.
When Germany was split into West Germany, a NATO member, and East Germany under the Soviet influence, tiny Austria became a united and independent country with permanent neutrality codified in law in 1955.
The law means neutrality needs to be maintained and protected.
In practice, it prohibits Austria from joining military organisations like NATO, and hosting any foreign soldiers and military bases in the country.
Austrian personnel have been on the ground in previous conflicts like the international mission in Afghanistan.
Austrian personnel took part in the NATO-led ISAF troops, but their role was strictly in peace-supporting, non-combat roles.
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