Israel closes airspace, halts operations at Ben Gurion Airport amid retaliatory drone strikes from Iran
Empty passenger planes, official state plane transferred to other airports, says media
ISTANBUL
Israel closed its airspace and suspended flight operations at Ben Gurion International Airport on Friday.
According to Israeli Channel 12, Israeli airspace was completely closed until further notice due to retaliatory drone strikes from Iran.
Ben Gurion Airport is expected to remain closed for three to four days, Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing Israeli military sources.
Israeli army radio said that the airport was evacuated and empty passenger planes were transferred to other airports.
The public was asked to stay away from the airport – the country's largest – until further notice.
The official state plane, Wing of Zion, was also transferred, the Transport and Road Safety Ministry said, without specifying the transfer point, according to Channel 12.
Israel launched a sweeping military operation against Iran early Friday, with 200 planes targeting its nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities. Several senior military officials and nuclear scientists were killed in the attack.
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