Iraqi Airlines suspends Beirut flights following strikes on Hezbollah headquarters

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Beirut, citing safety concerns due to the escalating security situation in Lebanon. In a statement, the airline said, “All Iraqi Airlines flights to and from Beirut [are halted] until further notice, due to the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon.” The airline added that it would “closely monitor developments” and provide updates as the situation evolves.

The Lebanese capital, Beirut, has witnessed intense violence with today’s bombing of Hezbollah headquarters following earlier walkie-talkie and pager explosions linked to Israel.

This decision comes amid mounting instability in Lebanon, with several countries, including the U.S., France, and Saudi Arabia, advising their citizens to leave the country in recent months.

Israel has carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, intensifying the conflict in recent days. Since the start of the Gaza war in early 2024, Israel and Hezbollah have been trading strikes along the border, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.