Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport has cancelled or delayed several flights due to escalating tensions between Israel and the armed political group Hezbollah. Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines (MEA) cited insurance risks as the reason for the disruptions to its schedule.
On Monday, Lufthansa announced the suspension of five routes to and from Beirut, operated by Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings, and Lufthansa, until July 30, as a precautionary measure.
Concerns of a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified following a rocket attack that killed 12 teenagers and children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday. This incident has raised fears of an escalation, with Israel's Security Cabinet authorizing a response to the attack on Sunday.
Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack, which is the deadliest in Israel or its annexed territories since Hamas’s assault on October 7, which ignited the ongoing conflict in Gaza and other areas.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 and Beirut airport’s flight information board show that Turkish Airlines cancelled two flights overnight on Sunday. Other airlines, including SunExpress, AJet (a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines), Aegean Airlines, Ethiopian Air, and MEA, also cancelled flights scheduled to land in Beirut on Monday.
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon’s only airport, has been previously targeted during the country’s civil war and conflicts with Israel, including the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel.
Recent Updates:
Nicolás Maduro Declared Winner in Controversial Venezuelan Presidential Election
Increased Chinese Military Activity Near Taiwan Strait Prompts Alert
Blinken Urges Action Against China's Sea Activities Ahead of Key Meeting