Flights to Beirut canceled; US issues travel advisory for Lebanon

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Some flights at Beirut airport have been cancelled or delayed, with LebanonAccording to Middle East Airlines (MEA), the disruptions to the schedule were related to insurance risks, as tensions between Israel and the armed political group Hezbollah increase.

A rocket attack that killed 12 people in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday has raised concerns that Israel and the Iran-backed group could become embroiled in a full-scale conflict.

Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday gave the government permission to respond to the attack. Hezbollah denied any responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.

Which airlines have cancelled flights to Beirut?

Air France announced on Monday that it will suspend flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut on July 29 and 30 due to the security situation at the destination.

“Air France is monitoring the situation in Lebanon in real time,” the airline said.

Jordan’s national carrier, Royal Jordanian Airlines, suspended its flights to Beirut on Monday and Tuesday. Jordanian television they reported, citing a statement from the airline on Monday.

The airline said evaluations were still ongoing regarding flights scheduled for Tuesday.

Lufthansa and Lufthansa’s Eurowings have cancelled three flights to Beirut scheduled for Monday afternoon, according to the airport information board and the flight registration website. Flight radar24.

“Due to current developments in the Middle East, the Lufthansa Group airlines Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings have decided to suspend their flights to/from Beirut until August 5,” a Lufthansa spokesperson said. media.

Turkish Airlines also cancelled two flights overnight from Sunday to Sunday, while Turkish budget carrier SunExpress, Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, Ethiopian Air and MEA cancelled flights scheduled to land in Beirut on Monday. Flight radar24 showed.

Qatar Airways will adjust its schedule to ensure all flights to Beirut are operated during the day, a spokesman said. The airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment, international media reported.

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon‘s only airport. It has been targeted before – during the country’s civil war and in conflicts with Israel.

On Sunday, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry said it had postponed the departure of some flights scheduled to land in Beirut overnight. Additional delays were then announced for flights scheduled to land on Monday due to “technical reasons related to the distribution of insurance risks for aircraft between Lebanon and other destinations,” MEA said.

US, UK and France issue travel advice

The US issued a security alert and travel advisory to its citizens in Lebanon on July 28. The advisory read: “The US Embassy reminds American citizens to review the current travel advisory, which strongly urges them to reconsider travel to Lebanon.”

It warned of flight disruptions “amid increased tensions in the region,” and stressed that travelers should make “alternative plans” if necessary.

Other countries, including the United Kingdom and France, issued urgent travel advisories on Sunday, asking their citizens to avoid or leave Lebanon immediately.

The UK Foreign Office has also updated its travel advice, urging British citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid “all travel to Lebanon”.

Read: Global airlines suspend flights amid Middle East tensions