Lufthansa Germany to Voice of America: Flights to and from Iran Temporarily Canceled Due to 'Current Regional Conditions'

German airline Lufthansa announced on Wednesday that after careful assessment, it has decided to suspend all flights to and from Iran until Thursday, April 11, due to the current situation in the Middle East. A spokesperson for the company told Voice of America, "Given the current conditions in the Middle East, Lufthansa has made this decision," adding, "We are continuously monitoring the situation in the Middle East and are in close contact with authorities; the safety and security of our guests and crew members is a priority for Lufthansa." Following an airstrike on April 2 targeting the Islamic Republic's consulate building in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the deaths of at least six IRGC commanders, Tehran has threatened retaliation; a threat that has escalated tensions in the Middle East. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, stated on Wednesday that Israel must be punished for the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus and that it will be punished. Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, also warned in response that if the Islamic Republic attacks Israel from its territory, Israel will respond with an attack on Iranian soil. After the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, in January 2020 and the IRGC's retaliatory missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq, the PS752 flight of Ukraine International Airlines was shot down by IRGC missiles, killing all on board. This tragedy led airlines to adopt special safety and security measures when tensions in the region escalate beyond a certain level. The CENTCOM commander is on the verge of a trip to Israel; the potential attack by the Islamic Republic and its proxy groups on Israel is the focus of discussions. In response to threats against Israel, Gallant stated: "We will respond powerfully to any attack." Khamenei promised punishment for Israel; Israel has raised the possibility of a direct attack on Iran. The Islamic Republic is at a crossroads of 'strategic patience' or 'harsh revenge'; the commander of the IRGC Navy stated: 'We do not act emotionally or hastily.' The National Security Advisor of the White House stated: 'America's support for Israel in the face of threats from the Islamic Republic is 'ironclad.' Israel is prepared to attack Iran's nuclear facilities in the event of a retaliatory strike from Tehran.