The Briefing Room

General Category => World News => Topic started by: flowers on August 08, 2013, 05:23:16 pm

Title: IDF Orders Eilat Airport Shut Down
Post by: flowers on August 08, 2013, 05:23:16 pm
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/170721#.UgPTK6xtZdh

Quote
The IDF ordered the immediate shutdown of the airport at Eilat Thursday to all arriving and departing flights, following an unspecified security assessment.

The assessment is most likely linked to terrorist activity in the Sinai desert, which borders on the southern port city.

Takeoffs of flights headed north were initially allowed to take place but were also stopped later in the evening.

The IDF will open the airfield at Uvda as an alternate landing spot for flights diverted from Eilat.

The Egyptian military has been conducting a large scale offensive against terror cells that operate in Sinai, in the last few weeks. The IDF has assessed that terrorists will try to launch rockets at Eilat.

In April, it was reported that Israeli planes taking off from Eilat will be armed with anti-missile systems due to the threat of shoulder-carried anti-aircraft missiles that could be fired from the Sinai desert.

The security establishment is aware that terrorists in Sinai have armed themselves with man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS. The initial thought was to intermittently close down the Eilat airport, but the decision eventually reached was to arm planes taking off from the airport with anti-missile systems.

 :th_10444:
Title: Re: IDF Orders Eilat Airport Shut Down
Post by: GourmetDan on August 08, 2013, 05:30:48 pm
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In April, it was reported that Israeli planes taking off from Eilat will be armed with anti-missile systems due to the threat of shoulder-carried anti-aircraft missiles that could be fired from the Sinai desert.

Yeah, that's probably what the plan was.  Maybe the Egyptians will clear a bunch of them out.  Not a good idea having uncontrolled territory so close to an airport.


Title: Re: IDF Orders Eilat Airport Shut Down
Post by: 240B on August 08, 2013, 05:37:18 pm
They got those shoulder fired missiles as an indirect gift from Obama. When Obama illegally supported the invasion and overthrow of Libya and the murder of Gaddafi, all of Libya armaments fell into the hands of the AQ/MB alliance, which in turn supports the PLO/Hamas/Hezbolla allance, as does Obama.
 
Obama's never ending support of Muslim radicals is causing everyone to be less safe including America and all of her former traditional allies.
Title: Re: IDF Orders Eilat Airport Shut Down
Post by: GourmetDan on August 08, 2013, 05:40:00 pm
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In April, it was reported that Israeli planes taking off from Eilat will be armed with anti-missile systems...

The rest of you yahoos are on your own...


Title: Re: IDF Orders Eilat Airport Shut Down
Post by: Oceander on August 08, 2013, 05:56:37 pm
The rest of you yahoos are on your own...




That's going a little too far; I seriously doubt Israel has the right, or the power, to put anti-missile systems on aircraft from other countries.  If those other countries want to follow suit, I'm certain Israel would be agreeable to that.
Title: Re: IDF Orders Eilat Airport Shut Down
Post by: Cincinnatus on August 08, 2013, 07:05:01 pm
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In April, it was reported that Israeli planes taking off from Eilat will be armed with anti-missile systems...

The rest of you yahoos are on your own...

I wasn't aware the Israelis have the authority to arm planes not theirs.