Tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad are likely to remain stuck for a long time, an aviation official said on Saturday, as conflict rages between their country and Iran.
The sudden conflagration began on Friday with Israel’s large-scale attacks on Iran. Tehran called these a declaration of war and the two sides are now exchanging attacks.
It could take weeks before all Israelis can return home, Shmuel Zakai, head of the aviation authority, told Israeli broadcaster Kan.
Israel will resume civil aviation gradually, cautiously and slowly as soon as circumstances allow, he said. “This will take weeks, not days or hours.”
Kan said tens of thousands of people are affected. There are currently no flights in or out of the country.
“We are at war, we could not have announced this in advance,” Zakai continued, according to the report.
People seek shelter as sirens sound during a missile strike in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, where several cars and buildings were destroyed. The attack was part of a large-scale Iranian missile barrage on June 13, launched in retaliation for Israeli strikes on senior military officials and strategic sites in Iran. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
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