BERLIN, Aug 5 – Lufthansa Group announced on Monday that it will be avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace through August 7 due to escalating developments in the Middle East. The suspension affects all flights operated by Lufthansa’s subsidiaries, including Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings.
Flights to and from Tel Aviv, Tehran, and Beirut have been halted until August 12. Additionally, services to the Jordanian capital, Amman, and the Iraqi city of Erbil are also suspended through August 7, based on the group’s “current security analysis.”
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The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region following the recent killing of a Palestinian militant leader in Tehran and an Israeli strike on Beirut’s suburbs that resulted in the death of a top Hezbollah commander. Both Hezbollah and Iran have vowed retaliation against Israel, raising concerns about a potential escalation into a broader regional conflict.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned G7 counterparts that Iran and Hezbollah could launch an attack on Israel as soon as Monday, according to Axios. Meanwhile, Israeli media reports suggest that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may consider a preemptive strike on Iran to forestall any potential attacks on Israeli soil. Netanyahu reportedly convened a high-level meeting with intelligence chiefs and defense officials, including Mossad head David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, along with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
Hezbollah, which was established in the 1980s with Iranian support, is Iran’s primary proxy in the Middle East and is funded and armed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The group shares Tehran’s core ideology and recruits mainly from Lebanon’s Shiite Muslim community.
Iran announced on Saturday that Hezbollah plans to escalate its attacks into Israeli territory, potentially targeting beyond military sites. This escalation follows Israel’s assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr on July 30, which also resulted in civilian casualties.
Key Points:
- Flight Suspensions: Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman, and Erbil through August 7 due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
- Affected Airlines: The suspension affects flights operated by Lufthansa’s subsidiaries, including Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings.
- Regional Tensions: Recent violence includes the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran and an Israeli airstrike on Beirut that killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Hezbollah and Iran have vowed retaliation against Israel.
- US and Israeli Responses: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Iran and Hezbollah could launch attacks on Israel soon. In response, Israel’s government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, is considering a preemptive strike on Iran.
- Hezbollah’s Role: Hezbollah, established with Iranian support and funded by the IRGC, is Iran’s primary proxy in the Middle East and is involved in the current escalation.
- Iran’s Threats: Iran has stated that Hezbollah plans to escalate attacks into Israeli territory, potentially targeting civilian areas, following Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr and the resulting civilian casualties.
