Jordanian Airline Cancels Flights to Beirut

Following Israel's 'preemptive strike' on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, Royal Jordanian Airlines suspended all its flights to Beirut on Sunday, September 4, 'due to the current situation.' The Jordanian state news agency did not mention the duration of the flight suspension. Reuters quoted Jordanian officials stating that there was no disruption to flight schedules over Jordan's airspace. Meanwhile, escalating tensions between the Iranian government and its proxies with Israel in recent weeks have forced many airlines to cancel their flights to the region. In one of the latest instances, Lufthansa and its subsidiaries extended the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, Beirut, Amman, and Erbil until Tuesday, September 6, due to concerns about potential escalation in the Middle East. Also see: Lufthansa extends suspension of flights to Tehran. Egypt's concerns over rising tensions. Hours after Israel's 'preemptive strike' on Hezbollah positions on Sunday morning, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi warned Charles Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the risk of further escalation in the region. According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, he emphasized the need to protect the stability and sovereignty of Lebanon while warning about the dangers of opening a new front there. Sisi called for a 'decisive stance from the international community' and a stronger response to 'the joint efforts of Egypt, the U.S., and Qatar' to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and free hostages, which he claimed would pave the way for 'calm and stability in the region.' Another step to change the situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday regarding the 'preemptive strike' on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, 'This is not the end of the story.' Netanyahu clarified, 'Hezbollah intended to attack Israel with rockets and drones. We ordered the Israeli army to carry out a strong and preemptive strike to eliminate this threat.' According to him, 'The Israeli army destroyed thousands of short-range rockets, all of which aimed to harm our citizens and forces in Galilee.' Netanyahu added, 'In addition, the Israeli army destroyed all the drones that Hezbollah had launched towards strategic targets in the center of the country.' He recalled the deadly attack on Foad Shukr in previous weeks, stating that Israel would deliver 'surprising and crushing blows' to Hezbollah. The Israeli Prime Minister warned Iranian leaders and Hezbollah, saying, 'Nasrallah in Beirut and Khamenei in Tehran must know that this is another step towards changing the situation in the north [of Israel] and returning our citizens safely to their homes.' Netanyahu had also stated earlier, 'This morning we identified Hezbollah's preparations for an attack on Israel. In consultation with the Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, we ordered the army to act actively to eliminate this threat.' He further mentioned, 'Since then, the Israeli army has been actively working to neutralize threats. Thousands of rockets aimed at the north of the country have been destroyed, and many other threats are being neutralized with force - both in defense and in attack.' The Israeli Prime Minister added, 'We are determined to do whatever it takes to protect our country, return the residents of the north safely to their homes, and continue to follow a simple rule: whoever harms us, we will harm them.' In this context, Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli army, stated on Sunday that the army neutralized Hezbollah's attempt to launch hundreds of rockets towards the north and several drones towards the center of Israel. He said in a statement, 'Before dawn, we identified Hezbollah's preparations for an attack against the north and center [of Israel]. About 100 Israeli Air Force fighters carried out preemptive strikes to eliminate the threats.' Hagari added that the army attacked 'hundreds of rocket launchers ready for thousands of launches,' most of which were aimed at northern Israel. According to him, 'We also attacked drones targeting the center of Israel.' He noted that Hezbollah's intention to launch rockets and drones towards the north and center of Israel meant that the attacks on Sunday morning eliminated a significant threat and 'possibly a future threat in some areas,' emphasizing Hezbollah's targeted rockets towards northern Israel. The Israeli army spokesman stated that most of Hezbollah's planned attacks were neutralized and most projectiles fired towards Israel were intercepted and destroyed. As tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate, a spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council stated that President Joe Biden is 'carefully monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon.' Sean South stated, 'Biden has been in contact with his national security team throughout the night. At his direction, senior U.S. officials have been in constant communication with their Israeli counterparts.' According to South, the U.S. will continue to support Israel's right to defend itself and will continue efforts for regional stability. Hours earlier, Hezbollah announced that it had fired over 320 rockets towards its targeted bases and locations in Israel. Israeli media also reported that the army had targeted and destroyed launchers that were supposed to be fired towards Israel at 5 a.m. on Sunday, September 4. According to reports, these preemptive attacks began against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon shortly before 5 a.m. Hezbollah claimed in its statement that it targeted 11 military bases in northern Israel, and one of the videos circulated on social media shows a Hezbollah drone hitting a highway in northern Israel. This rocket fire occurred while Hezbollah had previously announced that it was responding to the killing of Foad Shukr, its senior commander, in last month's Israeli army attack. Follow the latest developments regarding the escalation of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in the Voice of America blog. Also see: The U.S. supported Israel's approach in Gaza ceasefire negotiations.