Israel to reopen airspace at 1100 GMT for repatriation flights: official
AFP | Jerusalem, Undefined
Israel is to temporarily reopen its airspace for flights from 1100 GMT on Sunday as it repatriates thousands of citizens left stranded overseas by its war with Iran, the country's airport authority said.
Israel's main Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv "will open for landings from 02:00 pm - 8:00pm as part of Operation Safe Return", the authority said in a statement, referring to the government's efforts to bring home citizens.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Transport, between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis were stranded abroad when Israel closed its airspace following the launch of a massive bombing campaign against Iran on June 13.
Tehran has respond with daily barrages of missiles and drones.
Sharon Kedmi, head of the Israeli airport authority, said Sunday that flights to Israel to repatriate citizens were set to gradually resume.
"Ben Gurion airport is prepared to resume flights to Israel. The return will take place gradually, with a focus on the safety of passengers, flights crews and aircraft, and prior cooperation with security services," he was quoted as saying.
A first boat carrying 1,500 Israelis from Cyprus docked in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Friday.
The eastern Mediterranean island has become a major transit point where thousands of Israelis have gathered either awaiting repatriation or having left the country.
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