The UK warning to airlines to avoid Lebanese airspace came hours after Egypt instructed all its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace from 01:00 to 04:00 GMT on 8 August.

"All Egyptian airlines must avoid flying over Tehran. No flight plans are accepted over that territory," Egypt issued a notice to airlines.

Egypt's civil aviation ministry confirmed that the notice was intended to minimize flight safety risks after it received a notification from Iranian authorities. A source quoted by state-run Al Qahera News said Iranian authorities had advised against flying into the country's airspace due to "military exercises".

"The military exercises will be conducted in Iranian airspace from 11:30 to 14:30 on August 7 and from 4:30 to 7:30 on August 8 Tehran time," the statement said.

Many airlines around the world are also adjusting schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace, and canceling flights to Israel and Lebanon.

On August 7, US-based United Airlines said its flights to Tel Aviv had been suspended since July 31 due to security concerns. "We continue to closely monitor the situation, focusing on the safety of our passengers and crew, to determine when to resume service," the airline said.

Its competitor Delta Air Lines has also suspended flights between New York and Tel Aviv through August 31.

According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, British airlines currently have no flights to Lebanon.

Singapore Airlines stopped flying over Iranian airspace on August 2 and is using alternative routes, saying safety is the top priority.

Flights over conflict zones became a prominent aviation safety issue 10 years ago, after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

In 2020, Iranian air defense units said they mistakenly shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, killing all 176 people on board shortly after takeoff from Tehran airport. They were on high alert at the time due to rising tensions with the United States.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)