President Donald Trump has directed U.S. airlines to resume flights to Lebanon after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The directive comes as Israel announced it will close its airspace by July 31, creating a tight window for carriers to restart service.
Why the directive now
Trump issued the order following a face-to-face meeting with Aoun, according to the White House. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and regional stability. No further details on the conversation were released, but the directive signals a shift in U.S. policy toward Lebanon, which had seen limited American carrier service in recent years due to security concerns and the pandemic.
Israel's airspace closure
Separately, Israeli authorities confirmed they will shut down the country's airspace by the end of July. The closure affects all civilian flights. The reason for the shutdown was not specified in the facts provided, but it is expected to disrupt travel plans and force airlines to reroute or cancel flights to and from Israel.
What airlines face
U.S. carriers now have a narrow window to resume Lebanon service before Israel's airspace closes. The closure could complicate flight paths, as some routes to Lebanon may rely on Israeli airspace. Airlines will need to coordinate with both Lebanese and Israeli authorities to ensure compliance. The timeline is short—just weeks until the July 31 deadline.
The directive applies to all U.S. passenger airlines. It remains unclear how many carriers will actually restart flights to Lebanon in that period, or whether the closure will affect their ability to do so.
