FRANKFURT, March 10 (Reuters) – Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), opens new tab pilots will stage a two-day strike from Thursday in a dispute over pensions but ​will exempt flights to specified countries in the ‌Middle East “in light of the current situation” there, pilots union VC said.

Pilots are in conflict with Lufthansa’s core airline ​and its cargo division over pensions. The ​union declared readiness to strike after a ⁠ballot last year to pressure the company into ​granting more generous retirement benefits. Intermittent talks have taken ​place since then without success.

The strike will affect flights operated by Lufthansa Cargo ​AG and Lufthansa ​passenger flights ⁠departing from German airports between 00:01 on March 12 and 23:59 on March ​13.

The strike exempted flights to Egypt, ​Azerbaijan, ⁠Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the statement ⁠said.

During ​previous strike action last month, ​Lufthansa said it had affected passengers “extremely harshly and disproportionately”.