Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport Grounds All Flights Amid Airstrikes on Lebanon

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TEL AVIV- The Israel Airports Authority has announced a temporary suspension of departing flights from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), Tel Aviv due to escalating security concerns following the airstrikes on Lebanon.

This decision directly impacts air travel in and out of Israel’s primary international gateway.

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Ben Gurion Airport Flights Resumed

Authorities have implemented measures to redirect incoming flights to alternative airports in the region. This proactive step aims to ensure passenger safety while maintaining some level of air traffic flow.

The Airports Authority urges all travelers to maintain close contact with their respective airlines for real-time updates on schedule changes. This communication is crucial for minimizing passenger inconvenience and managing expectations during the disruption.

Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority later provided an update on the situation. Flight operations at Ben Gurion Airport resumed at 7:00 am (0400 GMT) on Sunday, following a brief suspension. This interruption coincided with Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.

Roy Steinmetz, a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed the resumption of normal operations. He stated that planes previously diverted to other airports would now be permitted to depart from Ben Gurion.

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Israel Airstrikes on Lebanon

Israel launched a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon early Sunday, claiming a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah. The militant group retaliated, announcing the launch of hundreds of rockets and drones to avenge the killing of one of its top commanders last month.

This intense exchange of fire threatens to ignite a full-scale war, potentially drawing in the United States, Iran, and various militant groups across the region. The escalation could derail ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a 10-month war with Hamas, a Hezbollah ally.

The Israeli military stated that Hezbollah was preparing to launch a massive barrage of rockets and missiles toward Israel. In response, Hezbollah declared an attack on Israeli military positions, citing it as an initial retaliation for the killing of Fouad Shukur, one of its founders, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month.

These attacks coincide with a new round of talks in Egypt aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict. Hezbollah has previously stated it would cease hostilities if a ceasefire is achieved in Gaza. Iran, which supports both Hezbollah and Hamas, also backs militant groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s top military spokesman, reported that “dozens” of warplanes were striking targets in southern Lebanon. He added that air defenses, warships, and warplanes were defending Israeli airspace and participating in the operation.

Hezbollah claimed its attack involved over 320 Katyusha rockets targeting multiple sites in Israel, along with a “large number” of drones. The group stated that the operation aimed at “a qualitative Israeli military target to be announced later,” as well as “enemy sites, barracks, and Iron Dome (missile defense) platforms.”

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