The decision came after Switzerland received four requests from the United States to fly its planes. Two flights of transport machines and one technical flight received the green light after completed maintenance, we read in a message published on the government's website.
The statement added that Switzerland applies the law of neutrality in its relations with the US, Israel and Iran – three key parties to the ongoing war in the Middle East. These provisions “prohibit overflights by parties to a conflict if they serve military purposes related to that conflict.”
Switzerland Statement
“Humanitarian and medical transits are permitted, including the transport of the injured, as well as flights that have no connection with the conflict,” the statement reads.
Why did Switzerland close the sky to US reconnaissance planes?
What requests did Switzerland receive from the US?
What flights are allowed by Switzerland?
What does the law of neutrality mean in the context of this decision?
Switzerland still maintains an annual permit for the overflight of clearly “identified US government aircraft.” However, the statement noted that this rule does not apply to state flights that “would constitute military support” in the ongoing war launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28.
