Turkish Airlines cancels Beirut flights over security concerns

Flight information from Beirut's airport and tracking website Flightradar24 revealed that Turkish Airlines canceled two flights overnight on July 28.

The disruptions persisted into July 29, with numerous flights to and from Beirut experiencing cancellations and delays, Caliber.Az reports citing the Turkish media.

These travel interruptions come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have been heightened by a deadly strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that claimed the lives of 12 children and teenagers.

In response to the escalating security situation, several airlines have canceled flights to and from Beirut. Turkish Airlines, budget carrier SunExpress, and its subsidiary AJet have all scrapped flights scheduled for July 29. Air France has announced the suspension of flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Beirut on July 29 and 30, 2024, due to safety concerns. Similarly, the Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, and Eurowings, will halt flights to and from Beirut until at least August 5.

The region is on high alert following a deadly rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that claimed the lives of 12 children and teenagers. This incident has intensified cross-border tensions between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, exacerbated by ongoing drone and missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. The heightened unrest has raised fears of a potential full-scale war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, further impacting air travel and regional security.