Israeli airlines are continuing to fly through Turkish airspace despite Turkey's announcement less than 24 hours ago that it had closed its skies to all Israeli flights. This defiance was demonstrated by Arkia Israeli Airlines flight AIZ388, an Airbus A320-214 traveling from Belgrade to Tel Aviv, which crossed into Turkish airspace near Izmir.
Turkey's sudden ban on Israeli flights comes amid escalating tensions between the two nations, raising questions about the enforcement of the airspace closure. Despite the official statement from Ankara, multiple Israeli flights have been reported transiting Turkish airspace without interruption, indicating a possible gap between policy and practice.
Historically, relations between Turkey and Israel have been fraught with tension, particularly in recent years. As previously reported, Turkey has been preparing for a long-term rivalry with Israel, which includes increased military readiness and infrastructure developments such as bomb shelters.
The continuation of Israeli flights over Turkey could further complicate diplomatic relations. Observers are closely monitoring the situation to see how Turkey will respond in the coming days, particularly in light of its recent military posturing and regional ambitions.
