Lufthansa cancels two flights to Israel amid spiraling tensions in the north

German airline Lufthansa canceled two nighttime flights to Israel from Frankfurt and Munich on Monday amid heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.

The announcement came after the airline canceled all flights to and from Beirut until August 5, though the company claimed the two flights to Israel were canceled because of “operational circumstances.”

As of Monday evening, Lufthansa flights to Israel from Frankfurt and Munich on Tuesday afternoon had not been canceled, according to Ben Gurion Airport’s flight board.

Lufthansa, along with other airlines, canceled its flights to and from Beirut for the rest of the month. Jordan’s flag carrier Royal Jordanian also suspended flights to Beirut on Monday and Tuesday, Jordanian Television reported, citing a statement from the airline on Monday.

The cancellations come amid fears of Israeli reprisal against a Hezbollah rocket attack on Saturday that killed 12 children and teens in the northern Druze town of Majdal Shams.

It was the deadliest Hezbollah attack on Israel since the October 7 war against Hamas began, adding to concerns that Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group could engage in a full-scale war.

(Top row, L-R) Ameer Rabeea Abu Saleh, 16, Iseel Nasha’at Ayoub, 12, Hazem Akram Abu Saleh, 15, Milad Muadad Alsha’ar, 10 (Middle row, L-R) Alma Ayman Fakher Eldin, 11, Naji Taher Alhalabi, 11, Johnny Wadeea Ibrahim, 13, Yazan Nayeif Abu Saleh, 12 (Bottom row, L-R) Fajer Laith Abu Saleh, 16, Vinees Adham Alsafadi, 11 Nathem Fakher Saeb, 16, and Gevara Ebraheem, 11, who were killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack on Majdal Shams on July 27, 2024.

Hezbollah has denied firing the rocket, but Israel has dismissed the denial, noting the group had said it fired at the area and presenting evidence that the munition used was Iran-made and exclusively used by Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In response, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed a harsh response against Hezbollah, and the security cabinet authorized the government on Sunday to respond.

Since October 8, Hezbollah-led forces have attacked Israeli communities and military posts along the border on a near-daily basis, with the group saying it is doing so to support Gaza amid the war there.

As of Saturday, the skirmishes have resulted in 24 civilian deaths on the Israeli side, as well as the deaths of 18 IDF soldiers and reservists. There have also been several attacks from Syria, without any injuries.

Hezbollah has named 383 members who have been killed by Israel during the ongoing skirmishes, mostly in Lebanon but some also in Syria. In Lebanon, another 68 operatives from other terror groups, a Lebanese soldier, and dozens of civilians have been killed.