Neutral Switzerland denies airspace for US military flights to Iran

Neutral Switzerland denies airspace for US military flights to Iran

Several US overflight requests rejected by the federal government Keystone-SDA

Switzerland has rejected United States requests to use its airspace for military operations against Iran.

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Keystone-SDA Other language: 1 Deutsch de Mehrere US-Überflugsgesuche vom Bund abgelehnt Original Read more: Mehrere US-Überflugsgesuche vom Bund abgelehnt

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Since the beginning of the Iran conflict, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has approved only a third of the 12 requests from other countries to fly aircraft over Switzerland en route to the Middle East.

+ Where Switzerland stands on the US-Iran war

Eleven applications were received from the US between Match 5 to 23, FOCA told Keystone-SDA. Four of these were approved, while one request was withdrawn by the US.

The highest number of applications was received on March 13, all five of which concerned flights for March 15. One request came from the United Arab Emirates, which was also rejected.

According to FOCA, requests for passage through Swiss airspace are only approved if they are “clearly not related to the conflict”, but are confined to humanitarian and medical purposes, including the transport of injured people.

Requests would be rejected under the law of neutrality if they were made in connection with armed conflicts.

The US continues to have an annual licence “for clearly designated state aircraft”. This excludes “in particular state flights that would constitute military support in the war between the US, Israel and Iran”. According to the Swiss government, aircraft outside of this list require individual licences from the FOCA.

The Federal Council decides on cases of considerable political significance while maintaining neutrality.

Since February 28, 2026, there have been serious hostilities in the Middle East. The law of neutrality applies in relation to the states of the US, Israel and Iran, the Federal Council wrote in mid-March.

More Foreign Affairs As Middle East conflict rages, Swiss tradition of uniting adversaries is changing This content was published on Switzerland’s military neutrality has long enabled it to facilitate communication between adversaries and help settle their disputes. But this traditional role is being tested as international relations grow increasingly turbulent. Read more: As Middle East conflict rages, Swiss tradition of uniting adversaries is changing

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