The latest skirmishes between Israel and Lebanon have prompted international airlines to suspend their services in Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Tehran, citing safety concerns. German airline Lufthansa announced on Thursday that flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran will be suspended until September 24, while flights to Beirut will be canceled until October 26. The airline stated that the safety of passengers and crew is their top priority and will reassess the situation in the coming days. Air France has also suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until September 20. Initially, the French airline halted services on Tuesday following a wave of deadly explosions targeting Hezbollah communication devices in Lebanon.
The explosions, targeting both pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah members, resulted in numerous casualties and serious injuries. While Israeli officials have not commented on the blasts, security sources claim that Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, was responsible. A Hezbollah official described the incident as the largest security breach in the group’s history. The US, denying any involvement in the blasts, has stated that it is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent an escalation of the conflict. A US official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Israel informed Washington on Tuesday of their plans to take action in Lebanon, but did not provide details. The operation itself came as a surprise to Washington.
Hezbollah, vowing to retaliate against Israel, announced on Wednesday that they launched rocket attacks on Israeli artillery positions. This marks the group’s first assault on its longtime adversary since the explosions. The Israeli military reported no damage or casualties from the attack.
