Lebanon

Risk Level: One - Do Not Fly

[ about risk levels ]
March 2026: Lebanese airspace remains open following large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets beginning Feb 28 and subsequent Iranian retaliation across the region. Lebanon sits close to the Israel conflict zone, and the situation across the region remains volatile.

See OPSGROUP Briefing: Middle East airspace situation - March 2026

The primary risk is military activity linked to the Israel - Hezbollah conflict and the wider Iran escalation, including missile and drone activity and potential air defence responses. Lebanon also continues to experience GNSS jamming and spoofing, which can affect aircraft navigation in the OLBB/Beirut FIR.

Several states maintain long-standing warnings advising operators to avoid Lebanese airspace due to the risk from military operations and anti-aviation weaponry. Some allow limited operations to OLBA/Beirut provided arrivals and departures remain over the Mediterranean Sea.



Major events:
March 2026: Regional escalation following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, with missile and drone activity affecting multiple countries across the Middle East.
Oct 2024: Israel launched a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Sep 2024: EASA recommended against flights in the airspace of Israel and Lebanon.
Nov 2023 - ongoing: GNSS spoofing reported in the OLBB/Beirut FIR.

Current warnings list :

Source Reference Issued Valid to
France Notam LFFF F0381/26 03 Mar 2026 12 Mar 2026
Germany Notam EDWW B0112/26 02 Mar 2026 03 Apr 2026
Italy Notam LIRR E2882/25 16 Dec 2025 15 Mar 2026
UK Notam EGTT V0042/25 15 Dec 2025 13 Mar 2026
Lebanon Notam OLBB A0276/25 13 Nov 2025 13 Feb 2026
EASA CZIB 2024-01 R7 28 Sep 2024 31 Jul 2026
Canada AIC 21/25 01 Aug 2024 Ongoing
USA FAA Information Note Syria/Israel 23 Apr 2021 Ongoing
USA Notam KICZ A0009/18 14 Apr 2018 Ongoing
Source: France
Issued: 03-Mar-26, valid until: 12 Mar 2026
Plain English: French operators should not enter the airspace of Lebanon.
F0381/26 NOTAMN
Q) LFXX/QXXXX/I /BO /E /000/999/4412N00040E460
A) LFBB LFEE LFFF LFMM LFRR B) 2603030842 C) 2603112359
E) 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 REQUESTED NOT TO PENETRATE INTO THE ENTIRE AIRSPACE OF LEBANON (FIR BEIRUT (OLBB)).
Source: Germany
Issued: 02-Mar-26, valid until: 03 Apr 2026
Plain English: German operator should not enter the airspace of Lebanon.
B0112/26 NOTAMN
Q) EDXX/QAFXX/IV/NBO/E /000/999/5123N01019E262
A) EDGG EDMM EDWW B) 2603021428 C) 2604022359
E) SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON CIVIL GERMAN AIR OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO ENTER FIR BEIRUT. POTENTIAL RISK FROM ANTI-AVIATION WEAPONRY, MILITARY OPERATIONS AND ARMED CONFLICTS.
Source: Italy
Issued: 16-Dec-25, valid until: 15 Mar 2026
Plain English: Italian operators should not enter the OLBB/Beirut FIR.
ITALIAN AIR CARRIERS AND CAPTAINS OF AIRCRAFT IN CHARGE OF AIR SERVICES OPERATED BY CARRIERS HOLDING AN OPERATING LICENSE ISSUED BY ITALY, 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 ITALY ARE RECOMMENDED TO OPERATE WITHIN AIRSPACE OF LEBANON FIR BEIRUT (OLBB) ACCORDING TO EASA SAFETY DIRECTIVES ENSURING A ROBUST RISK ASSESSMENT.
Source: UK
Issued: 15-Dec-25, valid until: 13 Mar 2026
Plain English: UK operators should avoid the airspace of Lebanon due to military activity. Exception only for OLBA/Beirut arrivals and departures routed entirely over the Mediterranean Sea.
V0042/25 NOTAMR V0031/25
Q) EGXX/QROXX/IV/NBO/W /000/999/5218N01451W999
A) EGTT EGGX EGPX B) 2512151351 C) 2603131200
E) SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN LEBANON. UK REGISTERED AIR OPERATORS ARE RECOMMENDED NOT TO ENTER FIR BEIRUT (OLBB), EXCEPT FOR OPERATIONS TO/FROM OLBA WHICH COMMENCE ARRIVAL AND COMPLETE DEPARTURE OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. POTENTIAL RISK FROM HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY. AR-2025-7732/02.
F) SFC G) UNL
Source: Lebanon
Issued: 13-Nov-25, valid until: 13 Feb 2026
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.
Source: EASA
Reference: CZIB 2024-01 R7
Issued: 28-Sep-24, valid until: 31 Jul 2026
Plain English: EASA recommends not to operate within the airspace of Lebanon at levels, unless operating to/from OLBA airport over water.
This CZIB is issued based on information currently available to EASA, Member States 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.
 
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah adopted in November 2024 has reduced tensions between the two parties. However, recurrent violations have been observed, primarily in southern Lebanon, but also including Israeli airstrikes on targets near Beirut International Airport in April and May 2025. 
 
The overall situation in the Middle East region remains volatile and should be closely monitored by operators.
 
While residual risks remain high, and should be reflected in operators’ risk assessments, it is considered that approaches starting from the sea and departures ending over the sea, based on an up-to-date risk assessment and continuous risk monitoring, provide sufficient mitigation of the risk of misidentification.
 
In terms of airspace management, the State concerned has not demonstrated 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 in the event of escalation.
 
Overall, there is a high-risk in the airspace over the territory of Lebanon, except for operations starting from the sea to Beirut International Airport and departures ending over the sea.
 
EASA, the Commission and Member States, 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.

Air operators should:
1. Not operate within the airspace of Lebanon at all flight levels, except for operations to / from Beirut International Airport (BEY / OLBA) under following conditions:
* approach starting from the sea / departure ending over the sea,
* based on an up-to-date risk assessment and continuous risk monitoring.
2. Closely monitor airspace developments and follow all available aeronautical publications concerning the region, issued by or on behalf of Lebanon and by the Aviation Authorities of the neighbouring States, including information shared through the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform on Conflict Zones, alongside available guidance or direction from their national authorities.
Source: Canada
Reference: AIC 21/25
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.
Source: USA
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.
Source: USA
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/