Israel limits access to airspace in north

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

An agricultural aircraft sprays crops with fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. (Doron Horowitz/Flash90)
An agricultural aircraft sprays crops with fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. (Doron Horowitz/Flash90)

The airspace from the coastal city of Hadera and northward is closed, according to a NOTAM, or “notice to airmen,” issued by Israel’s aviation authority this morning.

The move comes as Israel steps up its military campaign against the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon, which has been firing rockets into Israel since October 8.

The notice is valid for 24 hours and largely only affects recreational and agricultural flights.

It does not apply to emergency fights by the military, police, firefighters,  medical evacuations or flights servicing oil rigs.

Ben Gurion Airport is unaffected by the closure, as commercial flights generally do not fly north of Hadera to reach the airport near Tel Aviv.

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