Israel will cautiously reopen its airspace overnight Wednesday-Thursday for repatriation flights, following its closure during joint US-Israel strikes on Iran.

TEL AVIV: Israel will gradually reopen its airspace overnight between Wednesday and Thursday. The move follows its closure to civilian flights during joint US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Transport Minister Miri Regev announced the decision at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. The reopening is subject to ongoing security assessments.

The initial approved flights will be for repatriating Israelis only. A transport ministry spokesperson confirmed there will be no departures for now.

Regev said the reopening was moved up from next week following new security evaluations. “The airspace will reopen gradually starting already on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, and of course subject to security developments,” she said.

Israel Airports Authority director general Sharon Kedmi outlined a cautious restart plan. Operations will begin with just one narrow-body aircraft per hour for the first 24 hours.

“If everything works as planned, we will increase to two narrow-body aircraft per hour or one wide-body aircraft,” Kedmi added. Israel closed its airspace on Saturday after announcing preventive strikes against Iran with the US.

 The Sun Malaysia