Boeing ghost flights: China-Iran air route raises eyebrows in Israel conflict
Starting June 14, at least five cargo flights took off from various points in China and travelled a discreet route westward along China's northern air corridor. They then descend through Central Asia -- Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan -- before vanishing from radar near Iranian airspace, according to FlightRadar24 and The Telegraph.
Intriguingly, the listed destination for the flights was Luxembourg. But the aircraft never entered European airspace."The mystery transport planes," as described by The Telegraph, have fuelled speculation amongst defence analysts who suggest the flights could be part of an undisclosed logistics operation — possibly moving military supplies, key personnel, or sensitive cargo to support Iran during its escalating confrontation with Israel.advertisement"These types of planes are typically used for transport," one expert told Fox News Digital, "and could be evidence of China aiding its longtime ally Iran during the conflict."China and Iran are strategic partners. They oppose the US-led world order and favour a multipolar phase in global diplomacy. Iran is also a key energy supplier to China, sending two million barrels of oil daily."I think it's important to remember what the relationship is; forty-three percent of China's oil and gas comes from the Middle East, a large volume of that from Iran," Robert Greenway, director of the Heritage Foundation's Centre for National Defence, told "The Ingraham Angle" on Wednesday night. Iran supplies China with about two million barrels of oil each day.CARGOLUX DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN CHINA-IRAN FLIGHTSThe main airline involved, Luxembourg-based cargo airline, Cargolux has denied allegations linking its aircraft to a series of suspicious Boeing 747 flights from China to Iran, which reportedly disappeared from radar near Iranian airspace. These claims have fuelled speculation that China may be covertly aiding Iran with weapons during its ongoing tensions with Israel.In a statement released on both its official website and Facebook page on Sunday, Cargolux clarified that "none of its flights utilise Iranian airspace." The airline emphasised that its operations are fully transparent and relies on advanced tracking systems to ensure real-time monitoring.advertisement"Our flight tracking systems provide real-time data, which confirms that no flight entered Iranian airspace. Any claims to the contrary are completely unfounded," the company stated.CHINA'S XI CALLS FOR CEASEFIREChina's President Xi Jinping urged more diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict between Israel and Iran in a call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported.Xi, without naming the United States, said "major countries" with "special influence" in the region should step up diplomatic efforts to cool down the situation, the report said, emphasising Israel's role in bringing about a ceasefire.
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