All Middle East articles
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NewsUS clears sale of bomb guidance kits to Israel
The US government has cleared the possible sale of $510 million in munition guidance kits to Israel.
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NewsOman Air officially joins Oneworld
Oman Air officially became Oneworld’s 15th member airline on 30 June, three years after it announced its intention to join the grouping at 2022’s IATA AGM in Doha.
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Analysis‘Brightest explosion that I’ve ever seen’: inside US effort to develop a bomb for Iran’s nuclear sites
The US military’s top officer says development of the bunker-busting 13,600kg (30,000lb) GBU-57 bomb began 15 years ago and involved significant use of supercomputers.
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NewsQatar Airways chief details scale of flight disruption during Iranian missile attack
Qatar Airways has detailed the disruption to its operation arising from the missile attack by Iran on a military base southwest of the capital Doha. The 23 June attack on Al Udeid air base forced the closure of Qatari airspace – the emirate’s flight information region is relatively new, having ...
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NewsEl Al starts restoring services as Israeli airspace re-opens
Israeli flag-carrier El Al has started restoring operations, after the airspace around Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport was re-opened for normal flight activity. El Al and other Israeli carriers were forced to ground regular services when the country’s airspace was shut, as Israeli forces commenced a military air campaign against ...
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NewsUS Air Force releases footage of B-2s preparing for Iran strike mission
Video shot through a low-light night vision lens shows multiple Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers taxiing and launching under cover of darkness, and later returning to land during daytime conditions.
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In depthAirlines face fresh uncertainty amid escalating Middle East crisis
Airline operations faced fresh upheaval on 23 June – with many carriers cancelling or rerouting flights – as the conflict in the Middle East escalated further.
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NewsUS strikes Iranian nuclear facilities with largest B-2 mission in history
After more than a week of uncertainty about whether Washington would directly join Israel’s military operation against Iran, US President Donald Trump carried out air strikes against Tehran’s nuclear development sites on the evening of 21 June US time.
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NewsFormer air mobility chief calls out USAF vulnerability amid Middle East build-up
Retired US General Mike Minihan, who oversaw the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) mobility fleet, says the current flow of combat assets into the Middle East is providing “false comfort that tomorrow’s war will look like today’s rehearsal”.
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NewsRAF Voyagers damaged on the ground by pro-Palestine activists
In what the UK government is describing as an act of sabotage, two activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged a pair of the Royal Air Force’s Airbus A330 Voyager multi-role tanker transports
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NewsSaudi Arabia’s Aramco splashes out on C-27J firefighting assets
Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco is to acquire two Leonardo C-27J transports, for use in multiple roles including aerial firefighting.
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NewsEurofighter chief details export opportunities for 100-plus jets
Austria, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are among the countries being eyed by the Eurofighter consortium’s chief executive as potential sources of new export success.
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NewsNew agreement safeguards A400M production as Airbus eyes fresh sales
Airbus has stabilised its A400M production plan until late this decade, as the company pursues further capability enhancements and fresh export opportunities.
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NewsParis air show blocks key Israeli defence stands
Israel has blasted a French decision to block access to the stands of key Israeli defence companies at the Paris air show.
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NewsRiyadh Air orders 25 A350-1000s in deal for up to 50 of the type
Saudi Arabian start-up carrier Riyadh Air has disclosed an order for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000s, bringing the total number of aircraft in the carrier’s backlog to 182.
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NewsAviLease signs for 22 A350Fs as part of agreement for 77 Airbus jets
Saudi Arabian leasing firm AviLease is taking 22 Airbus A350F cargo jets as part of an order for up to 77 aircraft. The deal also covers 55 A320neo-family models, a mix of A320neos and A321neos, but not the long-range XLR. Deliveries of the aircraft begin in 2030 and run to ...
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In depthIsrael launches ambitious air campaign against Iran
Israel’s air campaign against Iranian targets represents an unprecedented long-range operation for its relatively small air force.
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NewsCourt filing alleges El Al exploited passengers with fare hike during conflict
Israeli flag-carrier El Al is facing potential legal action over allegations that it took advantage of depleted competition, arising from the Gaza conflict, to hike prices. The airline says it is aware that an approval request has been filed with a central district court in Lod for a class action ...
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NewsIndonesia signs agreement for 48 Kaan fighters
Indonesia has entered an agreement for 48 Turkish Aerospace Kaan fighters, marking the first international commitment for the type, which is still in development.
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NewsEU shelves Iraqi air safety assessment visit until more progress made
European air safety assessors have shelved a potential on-site inspection of Iraq’s civil aviation regulator, citing insufficient demonstrative progress on improvements. Flag-carrier Iraqi Airways and another airline, Fly Baghdad, each remain blacklisted by the European Commission. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority presented updates on its efforts to enhance legislative and ...