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  "path": "/2026/04/02/austria-blocks-us-warplanes-using-airspace-iran-war-27825781/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-02T12:42:11.000Z",
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  "textContent": "Warplanes involved in the Operation Epic Fury against Iran will not be allowed to enter Austria airspace (Picture: US Central Command)\n\nAmerican fighter jets will not be allowed to use the Austrian airspace for missions against Iran.\n\nThe Alpine nation has reportedly blocked the US from using its airspace after an announcement by its Ministry of Defence today.\n\nAustria said the US will not have permission for military operations against Iran.\n\nThis 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.\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nWhile the ministry didn’t reveal the number of inquiries from the US, it said there has been ‘several,’ according to the Austrian publication ORF.\n\nHowever, individual cases would be reviewed together with the Austrian foreign ministry.\n\nSven 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.’\n\nHe 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.’\n\nIt comes after Spain decided to block US warplanes from its airpaces involved in Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East.\n\nSpain blocked US fighter jets stationed in third countries like the UK and France from using its airspace.\n\nMeanwhile, the UK has allowed American aircraft to use British bases, namely RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia, in some operations against Iran.\n\nFootage from the US Central Command shows the military targeting Iranian assets (Picture: X/CENTCOM)\n\nHowever, the bases can be used only for defensive operations that halt Iran from putting British interests or lives at risk.\n\nDespite 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.\n\nDonald Trump has not been pleased with his NATO allies (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nThe 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.\n\nTrump’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.\n\nHe called NATO a ‘paper tiger’ and ‘terrible,’ and even hinted at he is thinking of pulling out of the alliance.\n\n##  What is the Austrian neutrality law?\n\nAustria was named a neutral state following the atrocities of the Second World War, which had seen the country annexed as part of Nazi Germany.\n\nWhen 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.\n\nThe law means neutrality needs to be maintained and protected.\n\nIn practice, it prohibits Austria from joining military organisations like NATO, and hosting any foreign soldiers and military bases in the country.\n\nAustrian personnel have been on the ground in previous conflicts like the international mission in Afghanistan.\n\nAustrian personnel took part in the NATO-led ISAF troops, but their role was strictly in peace-supporting, non-combat roles.\n\n**Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.** **Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.**\n\n**For more stories like this, check our**  news page**.**\n\n**Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates.** **You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.**\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Austria blocks US warplanes from using its airspace during Iran war"
}