April 19 (Reuters) - United Airlines on Friday

canceled its daily flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv in

Israel through May 2 due to security concerns after Israel's

apparent strike on Iran.

The carrier said a scheduled second flight from Newark to

Tel Aviv has also been canceled until May 18. Germany's

Lufthansa also called off all flights to Tel Aviv and

Erbil until Saturday and said it would fly around Iraqi airspace

during the period.

Israel launched an attack on Iran on Friday, according to

sources. But Tehran played down the incident and indicated it

had no plans for retaliation, a move that appeared gauged

towards averting region-wide war.

United's move expands on its announcement from earlier this

week, in which it canceled Monday's planned flight.

Global airlines have already been facing disruptions to

flights after Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel further

narrowed options for planes navigating between Europe and Asia.

United was the first major carrier to resume its daily

non-stop service between New York and Tel Aviv on March 2, while

Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv on

June 7.