Lufthansa Halts Tehran Flights After U.S. Warns of Imminent Attack on Israel by Iran — Update

By Christian Moess Laursen and Pierre Bertrand

Lufthansa suspended flights to and from Tehran due to heightened security risks in the Middle East after U.S. officials said that an attack on Israeli assets by Iran or its proxies could be imminent.

The German airline said Thursday that it had decided to halt flights to and from the Iranian capital through Saturday, effectively extending a suspension of flights it announced last week that was meant to last until April 11.

The decision only affects Lufthansa for now, according to a spokesperson from parent company Deutsche Lufthansa. The German carrier group also owns Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings aside from the eponymous Lufthansa.

Lufthansa is constantly monitoring the situation in the Middle East and keeps in close contact with authorities, the spokesperson said. "The security and safety of our guests and crew members have top priority for Lufthansa."

The decision comes a day after U.S. officials said Iran or its proxies in the region could mount an attack against Israel in retaliation for a strike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Syrian capital Damascus last week that killed top Iranian military officials.

Syria and Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack and Tehran has publicly threatened to retaliate.

Lufthansa normally operates daily flights to Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport from its hub in Frankfurt five times a week, except Tuesday and Friday.

Write to Christian Moess Laursen at christian.moess@wsj.com and Pierre Bertrand at pierre.bertrand@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 11, 2024 05:55 ET (09:55 GMT)

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