By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com
TEL AVIV, Israel & BEIRUT, Lebanon – Thousands of tourists and travelers have found themselves stranded in Israel and Lebanon, caught in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which has led to widespread airport closures and flight cancellations across the Middle East.
Israel’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv, has been closed indefinitely due to heightened security risks and ongoing military operations. This closure alone has left over 50,000 Israeli travelers and international tourists stranded abroad, with major Israeli carriers like El Al canceling flights well into June. Many stranded individuals are now seeking alternative routes out, with land crossings into Jordan being one of the few viable, though often costly and limited, options. Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has established a 24/7 virtual help desk to assist affected travelers.
In Lebanon, the situation at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport is also chaotic, despite its airspace still being partially open. The escalating regional tensions and airspace closures in neighboring countries like Iran and Iraq have caused significant flight delays and cancellations, disrupting both inbound and outbound travel. Pierre Achkar, President of the Lebanese Hotel Association, has warned that the conflict is casting a severe shadow over Lebanon’s crucial summer tourism season, with hotel reservations being canceled at an alarming rate.
