Lebanon Anticipates Israeli Attack, Royal Jordanian Airlines Cancel Flights To Beirut

JAKARTA - Royal Jordanian airline canceled flights to Beirut on Monday and Tuesday, Jordanian Television reported.

The airline said the evaluation continued regarding flights scheduled for Tuesday, reported by Reuters.

Flights to and from Beirut airport were canceled or postponed on Monday as tensions escalated between Israel and Hezbollah's armed political group after an attack on Israel's occupied Golan Heights killed 12 children and adolescents.

Israel previously stated it wanted to kill Hezbollah but did not drag the Middle East into a major war, two Israeli officials said.

Lebanon is preparing for retaliation after a rocket attack that killed 12 children and adolescents in Israel in Israel in Israel's occupied Golan Heights last weekend.

Two other officials said Israel was preparing for a possible battle a few days after a rocket attack on Saturday, July 27, on a sports field in Druze village.

The four officials, including a senior defense and diplomatic official, spoke without naming and did not provide further information on Israel's retaliatory plans.

"This estimate of the response will not lead to an all-out war," the diplomatic source said.

"It's not in our interest at this time," he added.

Israel and the United States blamed Hezbollah Lebanon for the attack. Hezbollah denied any role.

The incident adds to fears of cross-border hostilities over months between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese group could turn into a broader and more destructive war.

On Sunday, Israel's security cabinet authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to decide how and time to respond to the attack.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted unnamed officials as saying the response given would be "constrained but significant".