Golan Heights attack: Lebanon's Beirut airport cancels flights amid fears of Israeli attack

The Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airportin Lebanon on Monday (Jul29)cancelled or delayed flightsas tensions escalated between Israel and Hezbollah.A rocket strike that killed 12 teenagers and children in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack which has added to concerns that Israel and theIran-backed group could engage in a full-scale war. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the attack.

According to a report by the news agency Reuters, Lebanon'sMiddle East Airlines (MEA) said that the disruptions to itsschedule wererelated to insurance risks. Lufthansa saidit had suspended five routes to and from Beirut by the group's carriers Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings, and Lufthansa up to and including July 30 "in an abundance of caution."

The flight cancellations

CitingBeirut airport's flight information board andtracking website Flightradar24, Reuters reported thatTurkish Airlines also cancelled two flights overnight on Sunday. Meanwhile,Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet, Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, and Ethiopian Air cancelled flightsscheduled to land in Beirut on Monday.

TheBeirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport is Lebanon's only airport and has been targeted in the country's civil war and previous fighting with Israel. Since the Gaza war began in October last year, Hezbollah and Israel have increasedcross-border exchanges of fire.

Also watch |Golan Heights attack: What would be Netanyahu's next move?

Lufthansa has already suspended night-time flights to and from Beirut for July due to "current developments" in the Middle East.

Israeli cabinet authorises govt to respond to Hezbollah strike

Israel's security cabinet on Sunday authorised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to respond to the rocket strike in Golan Heights which has been blamed on Hezbollah.

Israel has vowed retaliation against Hezbollah inLebanon, and Israeli jets hit targets in southernLebanon on Sunday.

In a statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office said that the security cabinet authorised the government to decide on the manner and timing of the response."

(With inputs from agencies)