Middle East brazes for terror as Iran threat looms

German airline Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) has announced the extension of its flight suspension to Tehran due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The decision comes amidst heightened concerns over potential retaliation by Iran following a suspected Israeli air strike on Iran’s embassy in Syria.

The situation intensified after an Iranian news agency initially reported on social media platform X that all airspace over Tehran had been closed for military drills. However, the report was later retracted, with the agency denying its issuance.

Following the suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria on April 1, the region has been on high alert for potential retaliatory actions from Iran. Lufthansa confirmed on Thursday that it would continue to suspend flights to and from Tehran until at least April 13, extending the suspension by two days.

A spokesperson for Lufthansa explained that the decision was made to avoid the necessity for the crew to disembark and spend the night in Tehran, citing safety concerns. Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines are among the few Western carriers operating flights to Tehran, with Turkish and Middle Eastern airlines primarily serving the route.

Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, stated that it would still operate flights to Tehran on Thursday but would adjust timings to avoid overnight layovers. Other international airlines serving Tehran have not yet commented on their flight operations.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed retaliation against Israel for the strike in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, including a senior commander from its elite overseas unit, the Quds Force. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the strike, the Pentagon has acknowledged its involvement.

The ongoing tensions in the region underscore the delicate situation, with concerns over potential escalation and the impact on air travel routes, including crucial overflight routes for airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.