Middle East Airlines (MEA) announced in a press release on Sunday that it is delaying the arrival of several flights scheduled for Sunday night until Monday morning. The company did not give reasons for this measure, or state whether or not it is a security precaution, but an informed source believes that recent developments in southern Lebanon, and Israeli threats following a deadly strike it has attributed to Hezbollah in Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, may be linked to MEA's decision.

The flights affected by this postponement are those from London (delayed from 10 p.m. to 8.30 a.m.), Copenhagen (delayed from 10.30 p.m. to 8.45 a.m.), Doha (delayed from 2.50 a.m. to 6 a.m.), Dammam (delayed from 8.55 p.m. to 7.5 a.m.), Dubai (delayed from 2.15 a.m. to 6.10 a.m.) and Jeddah (delayed from 9.15 p.m. to 6.35 a.m.).

Later Sunday the evening, MEA published a new press release in which the airline stated that further flights to and from Beirut would be modified on July 29. The press release cites "technical reasons relating to the distribution of insurance risks for aircraft between Lebanon and abroad."

The flights affected are as follows:

- Beirut-Riyadh: from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

- Riyadh-Beirut: from 11:50 a.m. to 1.05 p.m.

- Beirut-Nice: from 3:25 p.m. to 4:25 p.m.

- Nice-Beirut: from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

- Beirut-Djeddah: 8:55 a.m. to 9.55 a.m.

- Jeddah-Beirut: 12:25 p.m. to 1:25 p.m.

- Beirut-Kuwait: 8:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

- Kuwait-Beirut: 11:55 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.

- Beirut-Cairo: 7.30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

- Cairo-Beirut: 9:50 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

- Beirut-Baghdad: 12:55 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

- Baghdad-Beirut: 3:25 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For further information, travelers should call 961-1-629999 or callcenter@mea.com.lb, or visit the airline's website www.mea.com.lb. The airline's announcement passengers booked on these flights will have the right to change their flight once free of charge.