Tensions between Israel and Iran have spiralled, pushing the Middle East further on the verge of a regional war after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Tuesday.

Air India and several other international airlines announced cancelling flights to Israel due to spiralling Israel-Iran tension.
(Credit: Getty Images)

New Delhi: Amid spiralling tensions in the Middle East due to a possible direct conflict between Israel and Iran, major international airlines including Air India and Lufthansa have suspended all flights to Israel, multiple media reports said on Wednesday.

These include Air India, Lufthansa, Delta Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Baltic Air, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Eurowings, and Swiss International Air Lines, FlyDubai among others.

A Lufthansa flight bound for Tel Aviv was also diverted to Cyprus on Wednesday and later returned to Munich, from where it took off. A Lufthansa spokesperson told Reuters about the German airline’s decision to cancel all its flights to Israel till August 8 due to the “current development in the region”.

The airline group has also extended a halt on its flights to and from the Lebanese capital Beirut through Aug. 12, the spokesperson said.

Delta has announced cancellations of its flights until August 2 while United has cancelled its flights till August 6. Hebrew media estimated that the cancellations have left tens of thousands of Israelis stranded in the United States. The flight suspensions by United and Delta, the second and third-largest airlines in the world, respectively, could trigger a wave of cancellations by other airlines, according to The Times of Israel.

Fear of a regional war

Iran has vowed to avenge the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in a missile strike on Tehran early Thursday. Hamas and Iran have both blamed Israel for the killing, although Israel has not commented.

The assassination occurred just hours after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hezbollah military leader Fuad Shukr, in retaliation for the terror group’s missile strike that killed 12 children in Majdal Shams.

The region is now bracing for a potential major escalation between Israel and its regional foes, Hezbollah and Iran, as world leaders warn of the destructive potential of an all-out war. While Israel has stated that it does not wish for war, it has expressed readiness to act against ongoing attacks.

Israel has faced repeated cancellations by its airlines amid the ongoing war in Gaza and confrontations with Iran and its proxies.

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