Flight cancellations surge as possible Iran strike on Israel looms

The assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh by Israel in Iran has heightened tensions in the region.

As Istanbul-Tehran flights are being canceled one by one, this development has led to speculations that Iran, vowing revenge, might attack Israel.

Triggering event: Ismail Haniyeh, who had traveled to Tehran to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian President, Mesud Pezeskiyan, was assassinated. While Iran and the Hamas Movement held Israel responsible for the assassination, Israeli officials avoided making statements about the incident.

World alarms

The escalating situation has led to heightened security concerns globally, with major airlines suspending flights to the region and countries urging their citizens to leave Lebanon.

Countries including the U.S., U.K., and Sweden have urged their citizens to evacuate Lebanon because of the escalating conflict, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Airlines and travel disruptions

• Turkish Airlines has canceled its flights to Iran scheduled for tonight. Flights are expected to resume in the morning. Additionally, flights to Iraq and Jordan have also been postponed, further indicating the rising tensions.
• Greece’s Aegean Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut. According to a written statement, all flights to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv are suspended until August 6, 2024, and flights to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut until August 8, 2024.
• Germany’s Lufthansa has suspended flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv, citing security concerns. Lufthansa announced that it would not fly to Tel Aviv until Aug. 8, and the previous decision not to fly to Beirut has been extended until Aug. 12. The airline cited the deteriorating security situation in the region as the reason for the decision, stating that they would “monitor the situation on the ground” for the resumption of flights.
• Dutch airline KLM has canceled all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel’s capital, until Oct. 26.
• United Airlines and Delta Airlines have suspended flights to Israel until Aug. 6, citing heightened security concerns.
• Swiss International Air Lines has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until Aug. 8 and Aug.12, respectively.
• Air France has canceled flights to Beirut until August 6, and similar suspensions have been announced by Air India, ITA Airways, and other airlines.

Iran vows revenge

Iran’s stance: As the developments caused a significant stir worldwide, Iran and Hamas have vowed revenge. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, promised to give Israel “the harshest response” and stated, “We see it as our duty to avenge the blood of Ismail Haniyeh spilled on Iranian soil.”

US response: The Pentagon announced the deployment of additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East, aiming to deter Iranian-backed militias from escalating attacks on Israel. This move underscores the heightened security concerns and the potential for further conflict.

Escalation in Lebanon

• 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. The group claimed the attack was a 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’s response: 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 resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl and injured six civilians, some critically. The attack occurred in the village of Deir Siryan, near the Israeli border.