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Ovda

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth talk during an honor cordon ceremony at the Pentagon, July 9, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
October 20, 2026, 9:12 am
Hegseth meets Netanyahu during secret visit to Israel; said to discuss ‘threats in region’
Meeting held at Ovda airbase, where US jets are stationed; US defense secretary confirms previously unannounced visit to region to meet troops, but doesn’t specify location
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (right) walks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Minister of Defense Col. Gen. Zakir Hasanov in Baku, Azerbaijan, July 13, 2023. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
October 5, 2023, 9:41 am
Israeli weapons quietly helped Azerbaijan retake Nagorno-Karabakh — sources, data
Flight tracker info shows many visits to Ovda airport in southern Israel by Azerbaijani planes before offensive, amid strategic partnership against Iran; region’s Armenians dismayed
By Isabel Debre
Illustrative: Then-defense minister Benny Gantz, on a state visit to Azerbaijan, October 3, 2022. (Nicole Laskavi/MOD)
March 6, 2023, 9:24 pm
Flight data puts spotlight on decade of weapons sales from Israel to Azerbaijan
Newspaper reveals that since 2013, nearly 100 cargo flights operated by Azeri airline have landed at only Israeli airbase where explosives allowed
By ToI Staff
Two Israeli and one American F-16 fighter jets fly alongside one another during a joint exercise in southern Israel in January 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)
January 16, 2022, 4:22 pm
Israeli Air Force, US military hold joint aerial drill over Negev
‘Desert Falcon’ exercise is latest cooperation between IDF and America’s Middle East-focused Central Command
By Judah Ari Gross
Emirati air force chief Ibrahim Nasser Muhammed al-Alawi, left, shakes hands with Israeli Air Force chief Amikam Norkin after he lands in Israel to observe to observe the IAF's Blue Flag exercise on October 25, 2021. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 25, 2021, 5:02 pm
In landmark visit, UAE air chief in Israel to observe ‘Blue Flag’ exercise
Military’s largest, most advanced aerial exercise to date pits fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft against fictional ‘Dragonland,’ which looks not unlike Syria
By Judah Ari Gross
A Ryanair Boeing 737 airliner seen at Ramon Airport near Eilat, March 4, 2019. (Rafi Peled/Israel Airport Authority)
March 4, 2019, 9:58 pm
Eilat’s Ramon airport welcomes first international flights
Ryanair flight from Poland first from abroad to land at new airport; old airport in center of Eilat set to close later this month
By Ori Lewis
A German Eurofighter jet takes part in the international Blue Flag exercise at the Ovda air base in southern Israel in early November 2017. (Israel Defense Forces)
November 9, 2017, 5:12 pm
For first time in 100 years, Luftwaffe in Israel’s skies in huge air drill
German fighters fly alongside planes from India, France, Greece, Poland, Italy, the US and Israel taking on the IAF’s dreaded Red Squadron as Israel hosts biggest ever exercise
By Judah Ari Gross
Israeli and American F-15 and F-16 fighter jets fly alongside one another over southern Israel in May 2017. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
May 21, 2017, 2:58 pm
Israeli-American coalition takes on ‘enemy’ aircraft in the south
Ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit, pilots from US, Israeli Air Forces fly together in Juniper Falcon air exercise
By Judah Ari Gross
Israeli and foreign fighter jets fly in formation through cloudy skies over the Negev desert during the 'Blue Flag' exercise at Ovda Airfield near Eilat on October 27, 2015. (Israeli Air Force)
May 8, 2017, 12:50 pm
US planes to fly in Israeli Air Force exercise this week
Israeli, American pilots head to Ovda air base, north of Eilat, for joint maneuvers in the skies over the Arava desert
By Judah Ari Gross
A road in Eilat that partially collapsed on October 28, 2016, following massive rainfall (screen capture: YouTube)
October 28, 2016, 10:55 am
Chaos in Eilat as airport, roads closed following massive rainfall
Hotels flooded, cars stranded as city sees 140% of its annual rain descend in one night; meteorologists warns of flash floods, more bad weather to come
By ToI Staff
A 3D illustration of the Ramon International Airport near Eilat, slated to open in 2017 (YouTube screenshot)
June 24, 2016, 4:33 am
Israelis to get duty-free shops on Eilat flights
New airport opening next year will allow passengers to buy products at reduced prices without leaving country
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: A RyanAir Boeing 737 plane. (Courtesy)
March 1, 2016, 4:55 pm
2 Israeli fighter jets said to nearly crash into Ryanair plane
IAF F-16s come ‘dangerously close’ to passenger aircraft, with 162 on board, above Eilat’s Ovda airport; airline denies near-miss
By ToI Staff
Hazy view over Tel Aviv as a dust storm covers the city, November 4, 2015. (Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90)
November 4, 2015, 11:47 am
Dozens of flights grounded as dust storm envelops Israel
Airport Authority closes Eilat airport; health services recommend people remain indoors; power outages predicted
By Raoul Wootliff
Israeli and foreign fighter jets fly in formation over the Negev Desert during the 'Blue Flag' exercise at Ovda Airfield near Eilat on October 21, 2015. (Israeli Air Force)
October 30, 2015, 12:53 am
Israel hosts its largest-ever international air force exercise
Israeli, American, Greek, and Polish air personnel square off against a fictional enemy state in two-week drill
By Judah Ari Gross
US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz at the daily briefing of the White House in Washington, DC, July 31, 2015 (AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
October 19, 2015, 9:03 pm
Israeli, US officials put Iran deal behind them to team up on energy
Until recently, ministers Steinitz and Moniz were at loggerheads, but Washington meetings may herald warmer ties
By Rebecca Shimoni Stoil
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