Iran has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) announcing live-fire military exercises in airspace near the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring rising tensions hours after fresh US military assets arrived in the Middle East.
The aviation warning, published Tuesday, said Iranian forces will conduct live-fire drills from January 27 to 29 within a five-nautical-mile radius of the strategic waterway. During this period, authorities will restrict airspace from ground level up to 25,000 feet and classify it as hazardous.
As a result, both civil and military flights transiting the area may face disruptions. Aviation authorities routinely issue NOTAMs ahead of such exercises to warn pilots and airlines of potential dangers and temporary airspace closures.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, with millions of barrels of crude oil passing through daily. Consequently, any military activity there often triggers volatility in international oil markets and sharpens geopolitical anxieties.
Military movements
Meanwhile, the NOTAM coincided with heightened US military activity across the region. US Air Forces Central said it had launched a multi-day readiness exercise aimed at demonstrating rapid deployment and sustainment capabilities.
In addition, US officials confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers have entered the Middle East, an area overseen by US Central Command. The warships deployed earlier this month from the Asia-Pacific as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated.
US President Donald Trump recently said an American “armada” was heading toward Iran, although he expressed hope that force would not be required. US officials have maintained that all options remain on the table, including military action, while Iran has warned that any attack would prompt a swift and comprehensive response.
Historically, the US military has surged forces into the Middle East during periods of heightened tension, often framing such moves as defensive.
