Many airlines stop flying to and from Lebanon due to tensions

German airline Lufthansa has suspended flights to Lebanon's capital Beirut until July 30 due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In a statement released on July 29, Lufthansa said five flights of its group airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings and Lufthansa, had been suspended out of an abundance of caution.

Meanwhile, Beirut airport has also recorded flight cancellations or delays.

Lebanon's Middle East Airlines (MEA) said it had to adjust and postpone flight schedules to guard against insurance risks as tensions escalate between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Beirut airport's flight information board and flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that Turkish Airlines also canceled two flights on the night of July 28.

Türkiye-based low-cost carrier SunExpress, Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, Ethiopian Air and MEA have also canceled flights scheduled to land in Beirut on July 29.

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon's only airport, and has been frequently targeted during the country's civil war and previous conflicts with Israel, including the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict.

Cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon has increased recently since the Gaza war broke out on October 7, 2023.

The conflict has disrupted flights and shipping across the region.

Lufthansa has suspended night flights to and from Beirut in July.

On July 27, the situation in the region became unpredictable after a rocket attack on the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights killed 12 teenagers and children.

Israel's security cabinet has authorized the government to respond to the attack, which it blames on Hezbollah.

For its part, Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack.