Flights to and from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport were canceled or delayed on Monday following escalating tensions between Israel and the armed political group Hezbollah. This unrest comes in the wake of a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 children and teenagers.
Airline Responses
Major airlines, including Lufthansa, Swiss, and Eurowings, have suspended their flights to and from Beirut through August 5 due to the heightened security concerns in the Middle East. Middle East Airlines (MEA) also reported disruptions, citing insurance risks as a factor.
Regional Conflict Impact
The recent strike has intensified fears of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel’s security cabinet authorized a response to the attack, while Hezbollah has denied involvement. This incident is the deadliest since the start of the Gaza conflict on October 7, which has now expanded to multiple fronts.
Additional Flight Cancellations
Other airlines affected include Turkish Airlines, SunExpress, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, Ethiopian Air, and MEA, all of which have canceled flights to Beirut. MEA attributed additional delays to technical reasons related to insurance risk distribution.
Historical Context
Beirut’s airport, Lebanon’s sole international gateway, has been previously targeted during the country’s civil war and past conflicts with Israel. The ongoing conflict has disrupted regional travel and shipping, exacerbating the impact of these latest developments.
Lufthansa had already suspended night flights to and from Beirut for July due to similar concerns.
