EU tells Airlines to avoid Lebanon and Israeli Airspace

The European Union is asking the world’s airlines to avoid Lebanon and Israeli airspace for a month as the stepped-up air strikes and rocket fire between Israel and Hezbollah continues.

There has been an overall intensification of air strikes and a degradation in the security situation,” said a statement by the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA. It formally advised against operations in the airspaces of both Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels.

This recommendation shall remain in force until 31 October and can be reviewed and amended or revoked if necessary. EASA shall monitor the situation with an eye on whether there is an increase or a reduction in the risks posed to EU aircraft operators given the changing threat landscape.

The Israeli bombardment of southern Beirut has reached the intensity of its highest since the Lebanon war ended five years ago with Hezbollah. The Israeli military took responsibility for an airstrike in which Iran-backed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly killed, prompting a response by the group – firing rockets at a kibbutz and military targets in northern Israel.