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The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Israelis stranded abroad start returning home amid conflict with Iran
A rescue flight from Cyprus marked the start of Israel's Operation Safe Return, as thousands remain stranded amid ongoing missile strikes between Israel and Iran. Israelis disembark a bus after they were flown back to Israel in a special flight, on June 18, 2025 in Tel Aviv. Picture: Gil Cohen-Magen / AFP A first aircraft bringing home Israelis stranded abroad by flight cancellations resulting from the conflict with Iran touched down on Wednesday, with returnees expressing relief to be back on Israeli soil. A statement from the airports authority said 'the first flight of Operation Safe Return' landed at Ben Gurion Airport early Wednesday, with national carrier El Al bringing Israelis home from Larnaca in Cyprus. Thousands stranded abroad Transport Minister Miri Regev said Tuesday that between 100 000 and 150 000 Israelis have been stranded abroad, as Israel and Iran traded deadly fire in their most intense confrontation ever. Despite the nightly volleys of Iranian missile fire at Israel since Friday, hotelier Yaakov Bogen, 66, said he would rather be at home with family than abroad. 'I belong here, and unfortunately we get used to these fights and war, but we prefer to be here, to support as much as we can,' he told AFP in Tel Aviv after landing back in Israel. Travellers with suitcases disembarked a bus in the coastal hub, after Israel's airports authority urged the public not to order taxis or greet arriving passengers at Ben Gurion Airport due to 'the current security situation'. 'This is home' Stylist Tali Gehorsam, 40, expressed relief to be back after her flight was redirected to Cyprus half an hour before landing in the early hours of Friday. ALSO READ: Iran media reports 'massive explosion' after Israeli drone strike on refinery 'This is home. There's no other place,' she said. 'To be overseas and to watch the news is not a nice feeling.' After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, the long-range blitz began Friday when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to respond with missiles and drones. Since Friday, at least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Damage, trauma and reunions Ori Abadi, a 35-year-old Tel Aviv resident, said he had family in two areas of central Israel that have been hit by recent deadly missile strikes. 'I know that both of the apartments got damaged. It really hurts, it's really worrying and I'm really glad to be with my family now,' he said. Israel's transport ministry said all of Israel's commercial aircraft had been sent abroad to prevent damage during the air war with Iran. Rescue flights After suspending flights last week, El Al said it was 'preparing rescue flights' starting Wednesday with planes departing from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris. The low-cost Israeli airline Arkia also announced special flights this week to repatriate Israelis. A statement from the airports authority said Wednesday that the return operation 'is being managed in stages based on the level of risk and current security assessments, with a strong emphasis on the safety of passengers, aircrews and aircraft'. NOW READ: Israel strikes Iran: what we know
CBC
20-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Israel says it intercepted missile launched from Yemen headed toward airport
Yemen's Houthi militants say they are unfazed by U.S. airstrikes Image | December 2021 file photo of aircraft at Israel's Ben Gurion airport Caption: This picture taken on Dec. 21, 2021, shows a view of aircraft at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, east of Tel Aviv. A military spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi militants said the group fired a ballistic missile toward the airport early Thursday. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty Images) Israel's military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen early on Thursday as hostilities with the Houthis intensified, amid U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to punish Iran over its perceived support for the Yemeni militant group. Sirens sounded across several areas in Israel after the projectile was fired, the military said. The Israeli police said sirens were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. "A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF prior to crossing into Israeli territory. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol," the Israeli military said in a statement, referring to its air force. Israel's ambulance service said no serious injuries were reported. Yemen's Houthi militants, undeterred by waves of U.S. strikes since Saturday, fired a ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, the group's military spokesperson said in a televised statement. WATCH | Yemen's Health Ministry says U.S. airstrikes killed dozens, including 2 children: Media Video | Yemen's Houthi rebels vow to 'meet escalation with escalation' after U.S. airstrikes Caption: The United States and Yemen's Houthi rebels are both vowing escalation after the U.S. launched airstrikes that killed at least 53 people, including five women and two children, according to Yemen's Health Ministry. The U.S. says the airstrikes on Sanaa and Saada were to deter the rebels from attacking military and commercial vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping corridors on the Red Sea. Open Full Embed in New Tab Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage than loading CBC Lite story pages. The group has recently vowed to escalate their attacks, including those targeting Israel, in response to the U.S. campaign. U.S. strikes which began on Saturday over the Houthis' attacks against Red Sea shipping are the biggest U.S. military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January. The U.S. attacks have killed at least 53 people, including at least five women and two children, according to Yemen's Health Ministry. Trump also threatened on Monday to hold Iran accountable for any future Houthi attacks, warning of severe consequences. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the Houthis were independent and took their own strategic and operational decisions. On Tuesday, the Houthis said they had fired a ballistic missile towards Israel and would expand their range of targets in that country in coming days in retaliation for renewed Israeli airstrikes in Gaza after weeks of relative calm. The Houthis have carried out over 100 attacks on shipping since Israel's war with Hamas began in late 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Gaza's Palestinians. The attacks have disrupted global commerce and prompted the U.S. military to launch a costly campaign to intercept missiles. The Houthis are part of what has been called the "Axis of Resistance," an anti-Israel and anti-Western alliance of regional militias including Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah and armed groups in Iraq, all backed by Iran.
