Lebanon: A surge in tensions between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah has led to significant disruptions at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, Lebanon's sole airport. Multiple airlines have canceled or delayed flights to and from the Lebanese capital.
Airlines ground flights
Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines (MEA) was the first to announce schedule disruptions, citing "technical reasons related to the distribution of insurance risks for aircraft between Lebanon and other destinations." This move came after a string of delays on Sunday night.
Joining MEA, Lufthansa on Monday suspended five routes to and from Beirut operated by its subsidiaries Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings, and Lufthansa itself until July 30. The German carrier cited an "abundance of caution" as the reason for the suspension.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 also reported cancellations of two Turkish Airlines flights overnight on Sunday. Other airlines impacted include SunExpress, AJet, Aegean Airlines, Ethiopian Air, and MEA, with multiple flights scheduled to land in Beirut on Monday canceled.
Rising tensions and security concerns
The decision by these airlines comes amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. A deadly rocket attack on Saturday in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 teenagers and children, has heightened fears of a full-scale war. Israel has vowed to retaliate, while Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the attack.
Beirut Airport has a history of being a target during conflicts. It was damaged during Lebanon’s civil war and previous clashes with Israel, including the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The recent uptick in cross-border fire between the two adversaries has raised concerns about the airport’s security.
Lufthansa had already taken precautionary measures, suspending night-time flights to and from Beirut for the entire month of July due to the volatile situation in the Middle East.
As the situation remains fluid, travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight information before heading to the airport.