The first aircraft under Israel’s “Operation Safe Return” landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday, repatriating citizens stranded abroad due to widespread flight cancellations sparked by the intensifying conflict with Iran, according to Israel’s Airports Authority.
Operated by Israel’s national airline El Al, the flight arrived from Larnaca, Cyprus, and marks the beginning of a broader effort to bring home tens of thousands of Israelis affected by suspended commercial air travel.
Transport Minister Miri Regev said on Tuesday that between 100,000 and 150,000 Israelis are currently stranded overseas as a result of the most intense exchange of hostilities between Israel and Iran to date. In response to the aerial conflict, Israel had earlier sent all its commercial aircraft out of the country as a precaution.
Following last week’s suspension of flights, El Al announced it would begin organizing rescue operations starting Wednesday, with departures scheduled from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan, and Paris. Israeli budget airline Arkia also joined the repatriation effort, launching special flights this week to assist in returning citizens home.
The Airports Authority said the return operation is being carefully managed in phases, based on ongoing risk assessments and security evaluations. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of passengers, aircrews, and aircraft.
Due to the ongoing security situation, the authority has urged the public not to come to Ben Gurion Airport to greet returning travelers or to send taxis to the airport.
The emergency airlift comes amid a dramatic escalation in long-standing tensions between Israel and Iran. After decades of rivalry and covert confrontations, Israel launched a surprise aerial offensive against Iran on Friday, which it claims is aimed at halting Tehran’s alleged nuclear ambitions — a charge Iran continues to deny.
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