Passengers at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, were affected by flight disruptions on Monday (5/8) as fears grow of a full-scale war in the region.
Following several other countries, Turkey and Japan also urged their citizens to leave Lebanon after an airstrike in Beirut last week killed a senior military commander of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed his group would avenge the killing.
Several international flights were cancelled, while others were delayed, leaving passengers waiting at the departure terminal.
Syrian passenger Adnan al-Shheikha said, “I have been here since midnight, I arrived at the airport exactly at midnight last night. My flight was supposed to be at 3:55 a.m., but they delayed it the first time to 1:15 p.m. From 1:15 p.m., they delayed it again to around 6 p.m.”
Meanwhile, Jacob Szczesny, a tourist from Austria, said, “I came on 19 (July) and planned to go home on 4 August, but my first flight was canceled, a Polish airline. Then I bought a new ticket from Turkish Airlines which was also canceled. And today I have been waiting 10 hours for my flight which was then canceled, sorry, I mean delayed.”
Meanwhile, a number of US warships and warplanes were sent to the Middle East to prevent the outbreak of a full-scale war and to “defend Israel.”
In an interview with ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday (Aug. 4), as posted on the program’s X account, White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said, “The Pentagon is sending significant assets to the region to prepare for the possibility of another defense need for Israel from an attack, while at the same time we are trying very hard to de-escalate the situation diplomatically, because we believe that a regional war is not in anyone’s best interests at this time, and that is precisely what we have been trying to avoid since October 7.”
The show of military strength was carried out amid rising tensions in the area following the assassination of Hamas's top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last week.
Days earlier, a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children on a soccer field.
Israel blamed Hezbollah for the attack and then launched an attack on Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah commander. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran.
In an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement, which VOA reported from the Associated Press, Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said, “Hezbollah’s continued aggression and brutal attacks are dragging the Lebanese people and the entire Middle East into a wider escalation. Although we would prefer to resolve hostilities without war, the IDF is fully prepared for any scenario.”
Meanwhile in Beirut, in a broadcast on Hezbollah-run Al Manar TV, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah denied his group's involvement in the attack on the Golan Heights.
“We firmly deny responsibility for this incident, and we dare to take responsibility if (indeed) we bombed a place, even (if done) unintentionally,” he explained.
Despite the recriminations, the real consequences are felt directly by the people living in the area.
Israel's Iron Dome air defense system came on over the weekend to intercept attacks from across the border in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory to Lebanon and urged US citizens to evacuate the country. (rd/ab)
