Lebanon
Risk Level: One - Do Not Fly
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The primary risk is along the border with Israel, where the Lebanese militia Hezbollah has been fighting with the Israeli armed forces. On 1 Oct 2024, Israel launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, following weeks of cross-border fighting including airstrikes in Beirut. All foreign airlines now avoiding OLBA/Beirut. In addition to long-standing advisories for Lebanon (the OLBB/Beirut FIR), EASA is now also saying that flights here should be avoided.
There is also risk in relation to Lebanon’s proximity to Syria: civil aircraft may be targeted in error, or caught in crossfire during ongoing air attacks involving Israel, Russia, Iran. Missiles may erroneously lock on to civil aircraft. There is a risk to civil aircraft operating on overwater airways east of Cyprus. Several countries have issued airspace warnings for Syria, banning operators from entering the OSTT/Damascus FIR. Many of these warnings include include the note that there is a potential risk to aircraft within 200nm of the Damascus FIR (i.e. the LLLL/Tel Aviv, OJAC/Amman, OLBB/Beirut and LCCC/Nicosia FIRs) due to military activity - possibility of GPS interference, communication jamming, and long-range surface to air missiles in the area.
Major events:
Oct 2024: Israel launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Sep 2024: EASA recommends against flights in airspace of Israel and Lebanon.
Nov 2023 - ongoing: GPS spoofing reported in the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
Oct 2023: Clashes reported along the border with Israel, including drone activity, sporadic rocket fire and the use of artillery.
Feb 2020: An A320 en-route OSDI/Damascus caught in crossfire during attack by 4 Israeli F-16’s, forced to divert to Russian controlled air base.
Sep 2018: Russian IL-20 shot down in error on FIR boundary with Cyprus (Nicosia FIR) - airline flights on UL620 within 50nm of this position.
There is also risk in relation to Lebanon’s proximity to Syria: civil aircraft may be targeted in error, or caught in crossfire during ongoing air attacks involving Israel, Russia, Iran. Missiles may erroneously lock on to civil aircraft. There is a risk to civil aircraft operating on overwater airways east of Cyprus. Several countries have issued airspace warnings for Syria, banning operators from entering the OSTT/Damascus FIR. Many of these warnings include include the note that there is a potential risk to aircraft within 200nm of the Damascus FIR (i.e. the LLLL/Tel Aviv, OJAC/Amman, OLBB/Beirut and LCCC/Nicosia FIRs) due to military activity - possibility of GPS interference, communication jamming, and long-range surface to air missiles in the area.
Major events:
Oct 2024: Israel launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Sep 2024: EASA recommends against flights in airspace of Israel and Lebanon.
Nov 2023 - ongoing: GPS spoofing reported in the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
Oct 2023: Clashes reported along the border with Israel, including drone activity, sporadic rocket fire and the use of artillery.
Feb 2020: An A320 en-route OSDI/Damascus caught in crossfire during attack by 4 Israeli F-16’s, forced to divert to Russian controlled air base.
Sep 2018: Russian IL-20 shot down in error on FIR boundary with Cyprus (Nicosia FIR) - airline flights on UL620 within 50nm of this position.
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Notam EDWW B1218/24 | 11 Dec 2024 | 15 Feb 2025 | |
| UK | Notam EGTT V0040/24 | 01 Nov 2024 | 30 Jan 2025 | |
| EASA | CZIB 2024-01 | 28 Sep 2024 | 31 Oct 2024 | |
| France | Notam LFFF F1383/24 | 27 Sep 2024 | 27 Oct 2024 | |
| Canada | AIC 21/24 | 01 Aug 2024 | Ongoing | |
| Lebanon | Notam OLBB A0179/23 | 10 Nov 2023 | 18 Feb 2024 | |
| USA | FAA Information Note Syria/Israel | 23 Apr 2021 | Ongoing | |
| USA | Notam KICZ A0009/18 | 14 Apr 2018 | Ongoing |
Source: Germany
Reference: Notam EDWW B1218/24
Issued: 11-Dec-24, valid until: 15 Feb 2025
Plain English: German operators recommended not to enter the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON CIVIL GERMAN AIR OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO ENTER FIR BEIRUT (OLBB). POTENTIAL RISK FROM ANTI-AVIATION WEAPONRY, MILITARY OPERATIONS AND ARMED CONFLICTS. 11 DEC 14:07 2024 UNTIL 14 FEB 23:59 2025. CREATED: 11 DEC 14:07 2024
Source: UK
Reference: Notam EGTT V0040/24
Issued: 01-Nov-24, valid until: 30 Jan 2025
Plain English: UK operators recommended not to enter the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON. UK REGISTERED AIR OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO ENTER FIR BEIRUT (OLBB) DUE TO POTENTIAL RISK TO AVIATION FROM MILITARY ACTIVITY. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT UK DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT 02070 826639 OR 02079 443111 OUT OF HOURS. AR-2024-5332/AO1. SFC - UNL, 01 NOV 10:40 2024 UNTIL 30 JAN 12:00 2025. CREATED: 01 NOV 10:41 2024
Source: EASA
Reference: CZIB 2024-01
Issued: 28-Sep-24, valid until: 31 Oct 2024
Plain English: New EASA CZIB: EASA recommends not to operate within the airspace of Lebanon at all flight levels.
This CZIB is issued based on information currently available to EASA and the European Commission in order to share information which is considered necessary to ensure the safety of flights over zones of interest and indicate areas of high risk.
Considering the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel there is a high risk to civil aviation. The conflict involves rockets, missiles and drones launches from Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire.
Hezbollah’s possession of all-altitude capable air-defence systems, cruise and ballistic missiles, along with the deployment of air assets operating at various altitudes, increases the risk of misidentification and miscalculation.
The recent intensification of the conflict, with air strikes targeting southern Beirut and the North-East part of the Lebanese territory, marks a sharp escalation in the military activity that constitutes a threat to civil aviation.
In terms of airspace management, the State concerned has not demonstrated full capability to address existing airspace risks by implementing an efficient and proactive approach to the airspace deconfliction. As a result, there are limited mitigating factors, on which air operators can rely.
Considering the above and the current intensity of the conflict, it is considered that there is a high-risk in the entire airspace of Lebanon.
EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation.
EASA recommends not to operate within the airspace of Lebanon at all flight levels.
Considering the current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel there is a high risk to civil aviation. The conflict involves rockets, missiles and drones launches from Lebanon and Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire.
Hezbollah’s possession of all-altitude capable air-defence systems, cruise and ballistic missiles, along with the deployment of air assets operating at various altitudes, increases the risk of misidentification and miscalculation.
The recent intensification of the conflict, with air strikes targeting southern Beirut and the North-East part of the Lebanese territory, marks a sharp escalation in the military activity that constitutes a threat to civil aviation.
In terms of airspace management, the State concerned has not demonstrated full capability to address existing airspace risks by implementing an efficient and proactive approach to the airspace deconfliction. As a result, there are limited mitigating factors, on which air operators can rely.
Considering the above and the current intensity of the conflict, it is considered that there is a high-risk in the entire airspace of Lebanon.
EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation, with a view to assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation.
EASA recommends not to operate within the airspace of Lebanon at all flight levels.
Source: France
Reference: Notam LFFF F1383/24
Issued: 27-Sep-24, valid until: 27 Oct 2024
Plain English: French operators should not overfly the OLBB/Beirut FIR or operate to OLBA/Beirut Airport.
DUE TO SECURITY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON, FRENCH AIR CARRIERS AND CAPTAINS OF AIRCRAFT IN CHARGE OF AIR SERVICES OPERATED BY CARRIERS HOLDING AN OPERATING LICENSE ISSUED BY FRANCE, WHETHER THEY ARE CONTRACTUAL CARRIERS AND/OR OPERATING CARRIERS, OR PERFORMING AIR SERVICES THROUGH A WET LEASE OR A CODESHARE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS FOR ANY FLIGHT MADE WITH AN AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN FRANCE ARE RECOMMENDED TO AVOID OVERFLYING WITHIN FIR BEIRUT (OLBB) AND SERVING BEIRUT AERODROME (OLBA). 27 SEP 22:03 2024 UNTIL 26 OCT 23:59 2024. CREATED: 27 SEP 22:04 2024
Source: Canada
Reference: AIC 21/24
Issued: 01-Aug-24, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Canadian operators should not enter the OLBB/Beirut FIR due to potential risk from military activity.
Level 2 (Recommendation)
SECURITY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended not to enter FIR Beirut (OLBB). Potential risk to aviation from military activity.
SECURITY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON. Canadian Air Operators and owners of aircraft registered in Canada are recommended not to enter FIR Beirut (OLBB). Potential risk to aviation from military activity.
Source: Lebanon
Reference: Notam OLBB A0179/23
Issued: 10-Nov-23, valid until: 18 Feb 2024
Plain English: Warning of GPS jamming and spoofing in the OLBB/Beirut FIR, pilots should stick to conventional ATS routes.
AIRCRAFT FLYING BEIRUT FIR SHALL BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE LOSS OF GPS/GNSS SIGNAL,AND DUE TO CURRENT SECURITY REASONS PREVAILED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA,THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN JAMMING AND/OR SPOOFING OF GLOBAL NAVIGATION SATTELITE SYSTEMS (GNSS). LEB ANS SET IN PLACE, CONTINGENCY PLAN, INCLUDING PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN CASE OF LARGE-SCALE GNSS JAMMING AND/OR SPOOFING EVENTS BASED ON:
-CONVENTIONAL ATS ROUTES,STARS AND APPROACH PROCEDURES (REF TO GROUND NAVAIDS) ARE CURRENTLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
-RNAV(GNSS) STARS AND RNP APPROACH PROCEDURES STILL POSSIBLE TO BE FOLLOWED IF PILOT REQUESTED AND UNDER HIS OWN DISCRETION.
10 NOV 18:10 2023 UNTIL 10 FEB 18:00 2024. CREATED: 10 NOV 18:08 2023
-CONVENTIONAL ATS ROUTES,STARS AND APPROACH PROCEDURES (REF TO GROUND NAVAIDS) ARE CURRENTLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
-RNAV(GNSS) STARS AND RNP APPROACH PROCEDURES STILL POSSIBLE TO BE FOLLOWED IF PILOT REQUESTED AND UNDER HIS OWN DISCRETION.
10 NOV 18:10 2023 UNTIL 10 FEB 18:00 2024. CREATED: 10 NOV 18:08 2023
Source: USA
Reference: FAA Information Note Syria/Israel
Issued: 23-Apr-21, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: An errant surface-to-air missile fired by Syrian air defences missed its target and landed in Israel on 22 Apr 2021. Syria is actively using long range anti-aircraft weaponry which poses a risk to civil aircraft in the region. While US operators are banned from the OSTT/Damascus FIR, the FAA warns the threat is extended to adjacent FIRs in the Eastern Mediterranean region including the LLLL/Tel Aviv, OJAC/Amman, OLBB/Beirut and LCCC/Nicosia FIRs. Use caution if operating in the area.
Title: FAA Information Note - Syria/Israel - Errant surface to air missile impacts near Israeli critical infrastructure.
Click the link for full text.
Click the link for full text.
Source: USA
Reference: Notam KICZ A0009/18
Issued: 14-Apr-18, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Exercise caution within 200nm of the Damascus FIR due to military activity. Possibility of GPS interference, communication jamming, and long-range surface to air missiles in the area.
SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ADVISORY FOR AIRSPACE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO DAMASCUS FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (OSTT FIR).
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN THE AIRSPACE WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OFTHE DAMASCUS FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (OSTT FIR) DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA. THIS MILITARY ACTIVITY MIGHT INCLUDE GPS INTERFERENCE, COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING, AND POSSIBLE ERRANT LONG-RANGE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ORIGINATING FROM SYRIAN TERRITORY, WITHIN THE OSTT FIR, AND STRAYING INTO ADJACENT AIRSPACE,THAT COULD POSE AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATING IN THIS REGION. TITLE 14, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, SECTION 91.1609, SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION NO. 114 PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE DAMASCUS FIR REMAINS IN EFFECT.
A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.
B. PLANNING. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A PLANNING TO OPERATE WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE OSTT FIR SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND MUST REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FAA REGULATIONS, OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION, INCLUDING UPDATING B450.
C. OPERATIONS. EXERCISE CAUTION DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE NAMED AREA DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA AND THE POTENTIAL RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION IN THE REGION.THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT ANY SAFETY/SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT ASH-AXE-CITE-WATCH@FAA.GOVOR +1 202-267-3333 OR 1-844-412-1794.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: https://www.faa.gov/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/
THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A BELOW ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN OPERATING IN THE AIRSPACE WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OFTHE DAMASCUS FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (OSTT FIR) DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA. THIS MILITARY ACTIVITY MIGHT INCLUDE GPS INTERFERENCE, COMMUNICATIONS JAMMING, AND POSSIBLE ERRANT LONG-RANGE SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ORIGINATING FROM SYRIAN TERRITORY, WITHIN THE OSTT FIR, AND STRAYING INTO ADJACENT AIRSPACE,THAT COULD POSE AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATING IN THIS REGION. TITLE 14, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, SECTION 91.1609, SPECIAL FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATION NO. 114 PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE DAMASCUS FIR REMAINS IN EFFECT.
A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER.
B. PLANNING. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A PLANNING TO OPERATE WITHIN 200 NAUTICAL MILES OF THE OSTT FIR SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION AND MUST REVIEW CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS AND COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FAA REGULATIONS, OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS, MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND LETTERS OF AUTHORIZATION, INCLUDING UPDATING B450.
C. OPERATIONS. EXERCISE CAUTION DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE NAMED AREA DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY IN OR AROUND SYRIA AND THE POTENTIAL RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION IN THE REGION.THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A MUST REPORT ANY SAFETY/SECURITY INCIDENTS TO THE FAA AT ASH-AXE-CITE-WATCH@FAA.GOVOR +1 202-267-3333 OR 1-844-412-1794.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: https://www.faa.gov/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/