The Israel Airports Authority on Tuesday warned of likely disruptions in flights to and from the country through the weekend due to a Russian military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Flight paths in the area of Cyprus will need to be altered, affecting the international lanes to and from Israel, and likely causing delays in takeoffs and landings, the airport authority said.
The Russian naval exercise is set to end on Saturday, according to Hebrew reports.
Russia has announced major military drills in the Mediterranean Sea amid growing tensions over a rebel-held enclave in Syria. Moscow’s Defense Ministry told Russian news agencies last Thursday that Russia will deploy 25 ships, including a missile cruiser, and 30 jets for the maneuvers in the first week of September. The military said the drills will focus on anti-air and anti-submarine defense.
The disruptions come as Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main airfield for international flights, braces for one of its busiest periods of the year: Three major Jewish holidays — Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Succot — all fall within the next three weeks.
Last Thursday, NATO confirmed the Russian navy is building up its presence in the Mediterranean Sea.
Separately, on September 11, Russian is set to launch its largest military exercises since the Cold War. The exercises in central and eastern Russia will involve about 300,000 Russian troops. China’s state Xinhua news agency has reported China plans to send 3,200 troops and about 900 weapons units.
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