Air France suspends flights to Gulf states, Israel, Lebanon as conflict keeps reigning

French airline Air France has suspended flights to the Persian Gulf countries amidst the escalation of the Iranian-Israeli conflict.

In addition, the airline also suspended flights to Israel and Lebanon, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

In general, on June 23, airlines are weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict which has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself.

The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns.

With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed to most airlines due to years of war, the Middle East had become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia. Amid missile and air strikes during the past 10 days, airlines have routed north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

By Khagan Isayev