Tensions in the Middle East has escalated after Israel launched a series of “pre-emptive” strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon on Sunday.
The Iranian backed militant group Hezbollah who are based in southern Lebanon launched hundreds of drones into Israel in response to Tel Aviv killing one of their commanders in Beirut last month.
There are fears of a regional war in the Middle East and the British government are urging all sides not to escalate tensions any further.
This afternoon British Airways and Wizz Air have cancelled all flights from the UK to Israel in both directions as a direct result of the escalation.
Wizz Air said in a statement they are “temporarily suspending” flights to Israel amid the “escalating situation in the region.”
A British Airways spokesman said, “We’ve been continually monitoring the situation in the Middle East and have taken the operational decision to suspend our flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including Wednesday 28 August.
“Safety is always our top priority, and we’re contacting customers to advise them of their travel options.”
Virgin Atlantic said the extension of their suspension of daily flights to Heathrow and Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv will remain following a “security and safety assessment.”
A spokesman said: “Following the latest security and safety assessment and after careful consideration we have taken the difficult decision to delay the restart of our Tel Aviv services.
“Daily flights are now planned to resume on 25 September from London to Tel Aviv. We’d like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused.
“Our teams will be in contact with anyone affected to discuss options, which include rebooking to a later date or a full refund and, in the meantime, customers can benefit from our partnership with El Al which operates multiple daily flights between Heathrow and Ben Gurion Airport.
“We remain committed to our services to Israel and look forward to resuming flights to Tel Aviv as soon as the situation permits.”
Labour’s Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden told Sky News, “Even as this unfolds, the UK Government and the international community would urge all parties not to escalate further and to avoid a major regional war. That is the real danger facing the area.
“We hope this doesn’t turn out to be that and we hope that afterwards we can de-escalate the situation.”
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