Repatriation flights from UAE halted, Israel said mulling ‘military options’ to bring some 4,000 stranded Israelis home

Repatriation efforts for Israelis stranded in the United Arab Emirates have halted today, following the closure of airports in the country due to Iranian missile and drone attacks, leaving some 4,000 Israelis stranded in the country, according to Channel 13.

Israel had arranged for a commercial air train to be operated to and from Ben Gurion Airport with flydubai and Etihad Airlines to return the thousands of Israelis still located in the country, but earlier today, the UAE came under another Iranian attack, forcing the airlines to cancel the repatriation flights and leave the remaining Israelis with no options to get home.

The UAE said earlier today that it was targeted with 16 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones. One unidentified object was intercepted near Dubai airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, forcing it to briefly suspend operations.

According to Channel 13, Israel is now considering a “military solution or a special operation” to return the thousands of Israelis still in the UAE. The report notes that no plan has yet been formulated.

The report says some 1,600 Israelis have returned to Israel from the UAE since the war began last week.