Friday, August 2, 2024 Starting on Wednesday, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines canceled flights to Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. The assassination of Haniyeh occurred in Tehran early Wednesday morning, raising concerns that the Middle East conflict could extend beyond its current borders. While Hamas and Iran accused Israel of killing the Palestinian militant leader, Israel has not claimed responsibility.
United Airlines canceled its daily flight to Tel Aviv from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, scheduled to depart at 3:30 p.m., citing “security reasons.
” Delta Air Lines also canceled flights from New York to Tel Aviv starting Wednesday, continuing through at least Friday, and issued travel waivers for all customers booked to travel to or from Tel Aviv before August 14. The region had already seen cancellations after a strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights last Saturday killed 12 children and teenagers, prompting fears of escalating violence. Germany’s Lufthansa Group announced on Monday that three of its airlines—Lufthansa, Swiss, and Eurowings—suspended flights to and from Beirut until August 5, according to the Associated Press.
Air France canceled some flights, while other airlines altered their schedules. The U.S.
State Department on Wednesday advised against travel to northern Israel within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders and upgraded its Lebanon travel advisory to a Level 4, urging people “do not travel” due to “rising tensions” between Hezbollah and Israel. The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada also issued warnings against travel to parts of Israel and Lebanon.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday urged all Australians in Lebanon to leave immediately, warning that commercial flights might cease and Beirut’s airport could close if the security situation worsens. She cautioned that the government might not be able to assist Australians in Lebanon with evacuation if that occurs..
