Amid the attacks by Hamas and retaliation from Israel, several major airlines have shut down their travel to the country as thousands have been killed and injured in the fighting that began Saturday.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller shared on Monday that nine U.S. citizens were among those killed in the violence and that there are still some who are unaccounted for in the country. Miller shared that they “are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts.”
In the meantime, travel to the country has all but been shut down.
On Saturday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration shared with pilots that “operators are advised to exercise extreme caution when operating” in the Tel Aviv area.
The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority also issued an alert Saturday, saying, “Due to the ongoing conflict situation in the region, between Israel and Gaza-based extremist militants, operators are advised to review current security, threat information, and NOTAMS.”
So far, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines have suspended their service to Tel Aviv.
So far at MSP Airport in the Twin Cities, there are four cancelled arrivals and one cancelled departure.
“Future operations at TLV will be suspended until conditions allow them to resume,” United said in a statement to CBS News.
Flights from Delta and American scheduled for early this week were also canceled after the fighting continued to worsen in Israel.
International carriers have also started suspending their flights to the country, as the Lufthansa Group, which operates several European airlines, said it was suspending all of its flights into Tel Aviv, CNBC reported.
“We are continuously monitoring the security situation in Israel and are in close contact with the authorities,” Lufthansa said in a statement. “The safety of our guests and crew members has top priority for Lufthansa.”
British Airways, Air France, and budget airlines Wizz and easyJet all saw their flights to Tel Aviv canceled as well.
Airlines aren’t the only mode of travel avoiding Israel at this time, as Royal Caribbean said it would be adjusting the course of several ships to bypass the area.
“Impacted guests are being notified directly,” the company said in a statement.
Most suspensions or cancellations were initially through Monday, but there has been no word on whether or not that will extend further into the week.