Major Airlines Including United, Delta, and British Airways Halt Gulf Routes; US Issues Travel Advisory

Sunday, August 4, 2024

The recent assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has significantly escalated tensions in the Middle East. Iran and its proxies have vowed to retaliate against Israel, leading to heightened security concerns and swift responses from global airlines and military forces.

The Big Picture
US Response: The Pentagon has deployed additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East to deter Iranian-backed militias from escalating attacks on Israel.

Airline Suspensions: Major airlines such as United Airlines, Delta Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines have suspended flights to Israel and Lebanon due to security concerns.

• United Airlines and Delta have suspended flights to Israel until August 6.
• Swiss International extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until August 8 and August 12, respectively.
• Lufthansa halted flights to both cities until mid-August.
• Air France canceled flights to Beirut until August 6, with similar suspensions by Air India, ITA Airways, and others.
• KLM canceled all flights to and from Israel until October 26.

Countries including the US, UK, and Sweden have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon because of the escalating conflict.

State of Play
Hezbollah’s Rocket Barrage: Hezbollah fired around 50 rockets from Lebanon into Israel’s upper Galilee region. Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted most of them. Hezbollah claimed the attack was in response to Israeli strikes that killed civilians in two villages in southern Lebanon.

• The attack targeted the settlement of Beit Hillel for the first time, causing no injuries.
• Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery shelling on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, including the town of Marjayoun.

Casualties in Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike on Lebanon’s southern region killed a 17-year-old girl and injured six civilians, some critically. The attack occurred in the village of Deir Siryan, near the Israeli border.

Background
Assassinations Fuel Tensions: The assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut has intensified the conflict. Both Israel and Hezbollah have vowed retaliation, with Iran threatening strikes against Israel.

Israeli Airstrikes: Israel’s ongoing airstrikes have killed five people in southern Beirut, including Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, and injured several others.

Broader Impact: The conflict has spread to other regions, with Israel’s strikes on the Golan Heights killing 12 and wounding 35. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, fearing a broader regional war.

Zoom In
US and Allies on Alert: The US has advised its citizens to leave Lebanon and is coordinating with allies to monitor the situation. The Biden administration is closely watching Iran’s actions and the potential for further escalation.

Diplomatic Reactions: Countries like Sweden have relocated their embassy staff from Beirut to Cyprus and are advising citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.

Global Airline Responses to Escalating Middle East Tensions

The recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran has led to significant airline suspensions due to escalating security concerns. United Airlines suspended its Newark to Tel Aviv flight, starting Wednesday. Delta Airlines paused its New York to Tel Aviv services, offering travel waivers through August 14. Air India canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 8.

The Lufthansa Group halted flights to Beirut until August 5 and to Tel Aviv until August 8. ITA Airways suspended flights to Tel Aviv for passenger safety. Air Canada postponed Tel Aviv flights until mid-October, with Montreal flights delayed until summer 2025.

Other airlines have also adjusted operations. Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, and China Airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace. Turkish Airlines delayed flights to Iranian cities, while FlyDubai canceled some flights. Aegean Airlines suspended operations to Tel Aviv and Beirut. KLM suspended all Tel Aviv flights until October 26, and Brussels Airlines paused operations to Tel Aviv until at least August 8.

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