UK blocks U.S. arms flights to Israel, while RAF drones still cross Israeli airspace

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW

Britain is refusing to let U.S. aircraft carrying military weapons to Israel transit British airspace, according to Israeli social media reports circulating Friday. At the same time, flight-tracking data shows Royal Air Force aircraft and drones continuing to overfly Israel on routes between a coalition base in Jordan and the British sovereign base in Cyprus.

A screenshot widely shared with the claim shows RAF flight RFR7331, identified as a General Atomics MQ-9B Protector, routing from the Jordan area across Israeli territory toward Cyprus at about 22,000 feet. The aircraft is listed as United Kingdom – Royal Air Force.

The contrast has drawn sharp criticism in Israel. Users argued that Jerusalem is granting Britain overflight rights that London is not extending in return to U.S. resupply flights bound for Israel.

The RAF’s MQ-9B Protector fleet has been operating from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and has previously been tracked on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties over the eastern Mediterranean, Jordan, Israel and neighboring airspace. Britain maintains sovereign base areas on Cyprus and has long used the island as a hub for regional air operations.

The British government has not issued a public statement confirming a blanket ban on U.S. military cargo overflights to Israel. London has, however, tightened aspects of its Israel policy in recent years, including partial restrictions on arms export licences. European airspace restrictions related to Middle East operations have also been reported at various points during the wider regional conflict.

Israeli commentators said the arrangement looks one-sided: Britain can move military aircraft and drones across Israel, while U.S. flights carrying weapons to Israel are denied the same courtesy through UK skies. Several replies called on Israel to close its airspace to British military traffic until reciprocity is restored.

Flight-tracking images do not by themselves prove the purpose of any single RAF sortie. They do show that British unmanned aircraft continue to use routes over Israel between Jordan and Cyprus.

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.