British Airways and Air France have suspended flights to Tel Aviv amid tensions between Israel and Lebanon

British Airways and Air France have suspended flights to Tel Aviv in the biggest clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip.

British Airways announced Sunday that it would suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv until Aug. 28, while Air France suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut scheduled for Aug. 25 and 26.

A British Airways spokesman said: "Safety is always our top priority and we are contacting affected customers to advise them on alternative arrangements."

The Israeli military announced Sunday that it had carried out pre-emptive airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, foiling the group's plans for a large-scale attack on Israel. However, Hezbollah later claimed to have fired more than 300 rockets at Israel, successfully completing the "first stage" of the operation to avenge the assassination of Hezbollah's senior commander Shukur.

The Israel-Lebanon situation is heating up further, heightening fears that the Israel-Kazakhstan conflict could expand and that the United States could be drawn into it.

German airline Lufthansa on Friday extended the suspension of flights to Beirut until the end of September and will resume flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran on September 2.

Wizz Air, a Hungarian budget airline, also announced Sunday that it would temporarily halt flights between Luton Airport near London and Israel because of the escalating situation.

Separately, Virgin Atlantic said the suspension of daily flights from London's Heathrow airport to Tel Aviv would be extended until Sept. 25 following a security review.