Shafaq News- Beirut/ Baghdad
Beirut International Airport remainsoperational, a senior airport official told Shafaq News Monday evening, asIraqi Airways suspended all flights to the Lebanese capital, citing securityconditions.
The Lebanese official said airlinescontinue to operate normally and that there is no intention, as of Mondayevening, to close the airport.
Iraqi Airways, in a statement, saidthe suspension was ordered out of concern for passenger safety given thesecurity situation in the region. The airline said flights will not resumeuntil its crisis cell and relevant authorities issue formal approval to restartoperations.
The announcements came after theIsraeli military issued evacuation warnings Monday to residents of Beirut'ssouthern suburbs, saying that it would strike targets in the area if Hezbollahcontinued firing rockets at Israeli cities and towns. Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier in the day confirmed theyhad ordered the military to carry out strikes on the Dahiya.
Late Monday, however, US PresidentDonald Trump announced that both Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to stopattacks, describing a conversation with Netanyahu as "veryproductive." Trump added that no Israeli soldiers would enter Beirut andthat any troops previously heading toward the Lebanese capital had alreadyturned back. The president also revealed he held a "very goodconversation" with Hezbollah through senior representatives.