Air France, Transavia Extend Beirut Flight Suspension through at least Thursday

This combination of pictures created on August 03, 2024 shows a Transavia Boeing 737-800 parked on the tarmac at Paris Orly airport on June 26, 2020 and Air France planes parked during an Air France pilots strike on the tarmac of Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on September 24, 2014. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT and STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
This combination of pictures created on August 03, 2024 shows a Transavia Boeing 737-800 parked on the tarmac at Paris Orly airport on June 26, 2020 and Air France planes parked during an Air France pilots strike on the tarmac of Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on September 24, 2014. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT and STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
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Air France, Transavia Extend Beirut Flight Suspension through at least Thursday

This combination of pictures created on August 03, 2024 shows a Transavia Boeing 737-800 parked on the tarmac at Paris Orly airport on June 26, 2020 and Air France planes parked during an Air France pilots strike on the tarmac of Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on September 24, 2014. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT and STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)
This combination of pictures created on August 03, 2024 shows a Transavia Boeing 737-800 parked on the tarmac at Paris Orly airport on June 26, 2020 and Air France planes parked during an Air France pilots strike on the tarmac of Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on September 24, 2014. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT and STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP)

Air France said Tuesday that its flights and that of its low-cost subsidiary Transavia to Beirut will be suspended through at least Thursday because of fears that the Gaza war could spread.

The resumption of flights to Lebanon's capital, which have been halted since July 29, "will be subject to a new assessment of the local situation," the airline told AFP.

The two French airlines first stopped servicing the route after Israel vowed to retaliate following rocket fire from Lebanon that killed 12 people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

Tensions have soared further in the past week as Iran and its allies vowed revenge for the high-profile killings of Hezbollah's top military commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, both blamed on Israel.

Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israeli forces across the border between Lebanon and Israel.

Air France said it "is constantly monitoring developments in the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft, to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security."

The airline added "the safety of its customers and crews is its number one priority."

Air France said customers with reservations for flights to or from Beirut scheduled before and including August 18 to postpone or cancel their trip free of charge.

German carrier Lufthansa has suspended flights to Beirut, Tehran and Tel Aviv until August 12.

Air France said its flights to and from Tel Aviv are operating normally.



Biden Speaks to Leaders of Qatar, Egypt on Mideast Tensions, Ceasefire

US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters at the South Lawn of the White House before departing on travel to Wilmington, Delaware in Washington, US, August 2, 2024. (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters at the South Lawn of the White House before departing on travel to Wilmington, Delaware in Washington, US, August 2, 2024. (Reuters)
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Biden Speaks to Leaders of Qatar, Egypt on Mideast Tensions, Ceasefire

US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters at the South Lawn of the White House before departing on travel to Wilmington, Delaware in Washington, US, August 2, 2024. (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters at the South Lawn of the White House before departing on travel to Wilmington, Delaware in Washington, US, August 2, 2024. (Reuters)

US President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday to discuss efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and bring a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, the White House said.

The region is on edge over the Gaza war and possible reprisals by Iran and its allies after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran-backed Hezbollah vowed to avenge the killing of top military commander Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut last week.

Iran has also vowed to retaliate to the assassination in Tehran last week of Ismail Haniyeh, head of Palestinian group Hamas.

The strike that killed Shukr on July 30 was the second time Israel had struck Beirut’s southern suburbs in 10 months of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli that are taking place in parallel with the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.