IP - Egypt and Britain asked their airlines on Wednesday to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace amid growing tension in the region for three hours on Thursday, Reuters reported. Egypt says Iran will conduct Military exercises over its airspace from 0100 to 0400 GMT on Aug 8.

Iran Press/West Asia: Britain's advice to its airlines to avoid the Lebanese airspace came hours after Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace for three hours in the early morning on Thursday.

"All Egyptian carriers shall avoid overflying Tehran (Flight Information Region). No flight plan will be accepted overflying such territory," the notice said, referring to the three hours specified from 0100 to 0400 GMT.

Egypt's civil aviation ministry later confirmed on Wednesday the notice was intended to reduce flight safety risks in light of a notification it received from Iranian authorities.

"Military exercises will be conducted over Iranian airspace from 4:30 to 7:30 on Aug. 8 Tehran time," the statement said.

The ministry's press statement followed an unnamed source quoted by the state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV as saying that Iranian authorities had said to avoid flying in Iranian airspace because of "military exercises."

This advisory follows a similar directive from Jordanian authorities which required all incoming flights to Jordanian airports to carry an additional 45 minutes of fuel.

Many airlines are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon.

The NOTAM, (Notice to Air Mission) a safety notice provided to pilots on Wednesday, said the instruction would be in effect from 0100 to 0400 GMT. 

The reports come as tensions mount in the Middle East over a widely expected Iranian attack on Israel. Iran has vowed to respond after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

Iran launched an unprecedented direct missile and drone attack on Israel in April following the Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria that killed several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials. 

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