This image exhibits the empty departures corridor at Ben Gurion Airport close to Tel Aviv on June 13, 2025 after Israel closed its air house to takeoff and touchdown. Agence France-Presse
JERUSALEM — A primary plane bringing residence Israelis stranded overseas by flight cancellations ensuing from the battle with Iran landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday, the airports authority mentioned.
“Simply a short time in the past, the primary flight of Operation Secure Return landed at Ben Gurion Airport,” a press release mentioned, including that the flight had been operated by nationwide provider El Al and introduced Israelis residence from Larnaca in Cyprus.
Transport Minister Miri Regev mentioned Tuesday that between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis had been caught overseas, as Israel and Iran traded lethal fireplace of their most intense confrontation ever.
READ: Israel, Iran commerce strikes as battle escalates – Reside Updates
The ministry mentioned all of Israel’s industrial plane had been despatched overseas to forestall them in the course of the air struggle with Iran.
After suspending flights final week, El Al mentioned it was “making ready rescue flights” beginning Wednesday with planes departing from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris.
The low-cost Israeli airline Arkia additionally introduced particular flights this week to repatriate Israelis.
An announcement from the airports authority mentioned Wednesday that the return operation “is being managed in levels based mostly on the extent of threat and present safety assessments, with a powerful emphasis on the security of passengers, aircrews and plane”.
It urged the general public to not go to Ben Gurion Airport to greet arriving passengers or order taxis to choose them up from the airport as a consequence of “the present safety scenario”.
READ: Netanyahu says altering face of Mideast as Israel, Iran commerce blows
After many years of enmity and a chronic shadow struggle, Israel launched a shock air marketing campaign towards Iran on Friday.
Israel says the offensive is aimed toward stopping Iran from growing a nuclear weapons functionality — an ambition Tehran denies.
Iran mentioned early Wednesday it fired hypersonic missiles at Israel in its newest retaliatory salvo. /dl
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