Amid escalating
tensions between Israel
and the Lebanese Shia Islamist militant group Hezbollah, travelers are rushing
to leave
Lebanon, leading to long lines and crowded scenes at Beirut airport. The
situation is particularly dire since several airlines have canceled flights, amplifying
the chaos faced by those trying to depart the Middle Eastern country.
The conflict,
which began with the October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant
group Hamas—an ally of Hezbollah—has lately seen almost daily exchanges of fire
between Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
Then, this week’s
assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, immediately following
Israel’s killing of Hezbollah's military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, further
inflamed the situation. These events have provoked vows of vengeance from Iran
and other armed groups that receive support from Tehran, including Hezbollah, and
drastically increased regional tensions.
Several airlines,
including Air France, British Airways, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa,
have suspended their flights into Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
(BEY) for the coming days.
According to AFP,
the scene in BEY on Sunday was haphazard, with families sprawled across metal
seats, children resting on their parents’ laps and customers vigilantly keeping
watch over piles of luggage. Passengers anxiously checked television screens
for updates on flights to destinations such as Istanbul, Amman and Cairo.
According to Crisis24,
unless a broader conflict is averted, severe commercial flight disruptions are
likely in the nations directly involved in the conflict. As tensions continue
to intensify, prompting fears of an all-out war, more flight disruptions are predicted.
There’s speculation that BEY might shut down entirely, which would make getting
out of Lebanon almost impossible.
Neighboring
nations could also close off their airspace, resulting in extensive flight
cancellations and disruptions. Area authorities could also implement additional
movement restrictions or initiate evacuations in the border regions of Israel,
Syria or Lebanon.
In light of all
this, foreign embassies in Lebanon have repeatedly advised their citizens to
leave the country while commercial flights are still running. France, for
example, warned that the current situation was “highly volatile”, while the
U.S. embassy on Saturday appealed to Americans to leave on “any ticket
available”.
Since the conflict
began in October, Lebanon has accumulated approximately 545 deaths, primarily
among fighters but also including 115 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On
the Israeli side, including the annexed Golan Heights, 22 soldiers and 24
civilians have lost their lives, army figures indicate.
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