US Delta, United Airlines suspend flights to Tel Aviv amid escalating tensions

NEW YORK -- US carriers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines on late Wednesday temporarily suspended their flights to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv amid heightening tensions in the Middle East region.

United Airlines suspended its daily services to and from Tel Aviv, beginning with the Wednesday evening's flight from Newark Liberty International Airport in New York to Tel Aviv, the company said, citing "security reasons."

"We continue to closely monitor the situation and will make decisions on resuming service with a focus on the safety of our customers and crews," a company spokesperson said in an announcement.

Delta paused flights between New York and Tel Aviv through Friday, Aug. 2, "due to ongoing conflict in the region," the airline said on its website.

Delta has issued a waiver for customers who booked travel to/from Tel Aviv before Aug. 14, allowing them to change their plans without paying a fare difference.

The airline said it "is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing our operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports. "

The US Department of State updated a travel advisory for the Mideast region on Wednesday, warning US citizens not to travel to Northern Israel and the West Bank, due to the rising tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, as well as armed conflicts.