LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government has confirmed that an Israeli military aircraft seen circling near Hurd’s Bank on Thursday did not breach the country’s territorial airspace, despite speculation sparked by flight tracking data and media reports.
In an official statement, the government said that Malta’s Maritime Security Committee (MMSC) had convened urgent meetings over the past 24 hours following a reported drone attack on the humanitarian aid vessel Conscience.
The vessel, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was located 14 nautical miles off the Maltese coast—just outside the nation’s territorial waters—when the incident occurred. The vessel, which departed from Bizerte, Tunisia, was headed toward Malta, although the government had already denied it permission to dock. Authorities have emphasized that they will not allow local activists to join the mission or participate in any related operations.
While no direct link has been officially established between the drone strike and the Israeli aircraft, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has publicly accused Israel of being behind the assault. The group claims the attack was unprovoked and aimed at disrupting their mission to deliver aid to Gaza.
The Maltese government reiterated its stance that its sovereignty had not been violated. “The committee clarifies that at no point in time, during the past 48 hours, any aircraft or vessel, currently mentioned in local and foreign media in relation to the case of the vessel Conscience, entered Maltese Sovereign Airspace or the Territorial sea,” the statement said.
Contrary to reports from online flight tracking platforms suggesting the aircraft circled above the southern and eastern regions of the island, the government maintained that “the territorial integrity of the Republic of Malta was never compromised at any stage.”
The aircraft in question was identified as a KC-130H Hercules, registration 4X-FBZ/545, operated by the Israeli Air Force’s 131 Squadron out of Nevatim Air Base.
Following the aerial activity, the Conscience issued a Mayday alert claiming it had been struck by a drone while anchored at Hurd’s Bank. No injuries were reported, but the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) dispatched a patrol boat and tugboat to provide assistance. A rescue vessel remains in the area.
The MMSC, which includes senior officials from the Home Affairs, Transport, and Foreign Affairs ministries, as well as the Security Service and police, stated it will continue monitoring the situation. “Assistance will be provided to the vessel, according to what is stipulated under international law,” the government affirmed.
The incident has heightened tensions in the Mediterranean and raised fresh questions about military activity near Malta’s maritime borders.
-Photo Department of Information Malta-
(ITALPRESS).
