Hyderabad, March 20 -- India's aviation regulator has asked airlines to avoid flying through 11 high-risk airspaces across the Middle East, citing a "high-risk environment for civil aviation" amid escalating tensions following recent strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

In an advisory, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed Indian carriers and operators to reassess flight routes and exercise heightened caution in the region.

The warning follows military strikes on targets inside Iran and the prospect of further retaliation, raising concerns over the safety of civilian aircraft operating in conflict-affected airspace.

The DGCA said risks include potential spillover from military action, the deployment...