Tel Aviv — Rising tensions between Israel and Iran, amid speculation of a possible U.S. strike on Tehran, are beginning to affect civilian air travel. Several European airlines have announced cancellations or delays of flights to Israel, while Iranian authorities denied reports of airspace closures or suspended flights.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that Air France postponed its decision on canceling flights to Ben Gurion Airport until Saturday morning, after initially announcing on Friday that it would suspend services. The channel also confirmed that Dutch carrier KLM unexpectedly canceled its scheduled night flights to Israel on both Friday and Saturday, without providing clear reasons.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump declared Thursday that “a tremendous military force is heading toward Iran,” which he said he is “watching very closely.” Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed he had threatened Iran with a strike if executions were carried out, adding that he “stopped 837 executions on Thursday.”

Trump further explained: “We have a lot of ships on their way to the region. We also have an aircraft carrier heading there. We’ll see what happens. I don’t want anything to happen, but we’ll have to see.”

According to U.S. officials, a carrier strike group and additional military assets are expected to arrive in the Middle East in the coming days. The deployment includes the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, several destroyers, and fighter jets, which began moving from the Asia-Pacific region last week amid escalating tensions following Iran’s crackdown on recent protests. Officials also noted that additional air defense systems are under consideration for deployment.

Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention against Iran over the killing of demonstrators, though protests subsided last week and his rhetoric has softened. On Wednesday, he expressed hope that no new U.S. military action would be necessary, but warned that Washington would act if Tehran resumed its nuclear program.

In an interview with CNBC in Davos, Trump reiterated: “They cannot pursue nuclear work,” referencing U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. He added: “If they do, it will happen again.”

The combination of heightened military movements, airline cancellations, and diplomatic uncertainty underscores the fragile state of regional stability as tensions between Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv continue to mount.