The attacks breach Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, which guarantees every state complete and exclusive sovereignty over its airspace
Closing airspace and rerouting flights to protect passengers' lives caused widespread disruption to global air transport
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), during its 237th session, issued a historic resolution supporting the joint working paper submitted by the Arab Group, categorically condemning the unlawful attacks carried out by Iran, which have come to pose a direct and serious threat to the safety of international civil aviation in the Middle East.
Following the session dedicated to discussing the Arab Group's working paper, Captain Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, stated that the discussions reflected the unity and cohesion of the Arab position on the issues raised, stressing that this consensus embodies the importance of joint Arab coordination in defending Arab interests to preserve the safety and security of civil aviation and prevent its overlap with military operations.
El-Hefny added that Egypt played an effective and influential role in supporting consensus on the Arab Group's working paper, which helped the Council adopt the condemnation of the unlawful attacks, in a clear and decisive position rejecting any practices that would threaten the security and safety of civil aviation or violate the international rules and conventions governing this vital sector.
The Minister of Civil Aviation stressed that Egypt will continue working in coordination with Arab states and international partners to strengthen the security and safety system in civil aviation and consolidate commitment to international law, based on its responsibility and pivotal role, helping support the security and stability of the region and safeguard air navigation safety regionally and internationally. He also condemned attacks on civil aviation facilities such as airports and civilian installations.
The Council condemned the attacks carried out by Iran since 28 February 2026, using missiles and drones, against the GCC states, including the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, considering them a violation of the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention) and the Charter of the United Nations.
The resolution stressed that these acts constitute a clear breach of Article 1 of the Chicago Convention, which guarantees every state complete and exclusive sovereignty over its airspace.
The Council also expressed its condemnation of the unlawful military use of drones, in violation of Article 3 bis of the Convention, which exposed vital international air corridors to catastrophic risks.
It added that this situation forced the affected states to take emergency measures, including closing airspace and rerouting flights to protect passengers' lives, which led to widespread operational disruption to global air transport.
The Council also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 of 2026, which deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian facilities, including airports, and stressed that these attacks constitute a violation of international law.
The ICAO Council directed the adoption of a package of strict measures to send a clear message that the safety of international civil aviation and states' sovereignty over their airspace are inviolable commitments, and that the ICAO Council will not hesitate to activate all its legal tools to protect the global aviation system from any reckless military threats.
