Hezbollah Rocket Assault Halts Tel Aviv Flights Temporarily

Flights at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport were briefly suspended following a pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah. Tensions rose as the Iran-backed group launched over 200 rockets in retaliation, causing significant disruptions. Director Udi Bar-Oz urged passengers to confirm flights before heading to the airport.

Tel Aviv [Israel], August 26 (ANI/TPS): Travellers at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport faced significant challenges as Israel's main international gateway began to return to normal operations on Sunday. This came after flights were temporarily suspended at 5:20 AM when Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that the Iran-backed terror group had plans to attack Tel Aviv.

In response to the IDF's actions, several flights were redirected to Ramon Airport near Eilat, while others were diverted to Larnaca, Cyprus, or Cairo, Egypt. Operations resumed at Ben-Gurion around 7:00 AM, following a security evaluation. Ben-Gurion director Udi Bar-Oz noted the busy schedule and unusual circumstances, adding that some international airlines had canceled their flights. He advised passengers to verify their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport. The Transportation Ministry reported that approximately 50,000 passengers were expected to pass through the airport on 323 flights throughout the day.

Hezbollah retaliated by firing over 200 rockets and drones into Israel on Sunday morning, claiming it was a response to the assassination of their 'Defense Minister' Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Shukr was implicated in a rocket attack that previously killed 12 children in Majdal Shams, an Israel Druze village. IDF fighter jets targeted and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah's rocket launch sites aimed at northern and central Israel, with an additional 40 launch zones struck.

One Israeli was moderately injured in Akko due to shrapnel. The ongoing hostilities have led many international airlines to suspend flights to Israel, leaving thousands of Israelis stranded abroad. Close to 80,000 Israelis evacuated their homes near the Lebanon border due to the conflict, with Hezbollah leaders vowing to continue attacks to prevent Israelis from returning. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians and 19 Israeli soldiers since October 8, with over 6,700 rockets and drones launched by Hezbollah during this period.

Israeli authorities are pushing for Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

(With inputs from agencies.)