Czech news in brief for February 28: Saturday's top afternoon headlines

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka warned that the Israeli-US military operation against Iran could intensify and last several weeks, urging Czechs not to travel to the region. The advisory covers Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE. Three Czech citizens are registered in Iran, but no evacuation is planned as airspace remains closed. Macinka said strikes target Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities.

Five flights from Prague’s Václav Havel Airport to Tel Aviv and Dubai were cancelled Friday following Israeli-US strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks. The airport cited security restrictions and regional airspace closures. Foreign Minister Petr Macinka advised against travel to several Middle Eastern countries. Passengers are urged to check updates with airlines and the airport website for additional flight status information.

Czech police say there is currently no indication that the conflict in the Middle East poses a threat to Czechia, though preventive security measures have been implemented. The statement follows US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliation. "We are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East," police wrote on X. "We have already taken the necessary preventive measures at the operational level." 

The escalating conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran could significantly disrupt regional trade and maritime transport, analyst Matouš Horčička told Czech News Agency. He warned of high uncertainty and possible unintended strikes across the Middle East, as well as involvement by Iranian allies such as Hezbollah or the Houthis. The crisis may quickly affect Europe through higher oil prices, trade disruptions and complications to air traffic, he said.

In 2025, residents of Prague paid over CZK 4.55 million in penalties for illegal water use, mostly from tampering with water meters, the Prague Water and Sewerage Company (PVK) reported. PVK investigated 176 suspected cases, confirming 144. The average penalty per household was around CZK 20,000. PVK also checked illegal wastewater connections, using a mix of database tools, on-site inspections, and camera surveys to calculate damages, sometimes retroactively up to three years.