Overview

• Israel’s national carriers El Al, Arkia and Israir have begun scheduled rescue flights from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris as part of a government-run “Safe Return” airlift.
• Transport Minister Miri Regev said the phased operation prioritizes passenger safety and will also use cruise ships to shuttle citizens from Cyprus to Haifa.
• Birthright Israel evacuated nearly 1,500 participants by cruise ship to Cyprus, with U.S. flights chartered by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set to fly American tourists home from Larnaca.
• British nationals have criticized the Foreign Office for lack of evacuation flights, prompting the dispatch of rapid deployment teams to Egypt and Jordan to assist those crossing land borders.
• Iran’s recent missile strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel and shut down air travel, stranding more than 50,000 Israelis overseas.