Israeli Aviation Official Warns Ben Gurion Airport Has Become 'U.S. Military Base' on Monday

According to Press TV citing Hebrew-language Yedioth Ahronoth, Israeli aviation official Shmuel Zakay warned on May 12 that Ben Gurion Airport has become a 'U.S. military base,' disrupting civilian flights and threatening Israeli airline operations.

Zakay told Israel's transport minister that military activities are delaying foreign airlines' return and raising ticket prices ahead of the summer tourism season. He stated that converting the airport into a military base would harm foreign carriers' recovery and threaten Israeli airlines' financial stability. The official added that Iranian retaliation for U.S.-Israeli airstrikes has severely impacted aviation, prompting Israeli carriers to relocate numerous aircraft overseas, with some yet to return.