VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela said he is not aware of any aircraft entering Malta’s airspace “irregularly,” after reports suggested Israeli military planes may have flown near the island earlier this week.
According to flight tracking website itamilradar.com, three Israeli C-130 Hercules transport aircraft left Nevatim Air Base on Tuesday afternoon.
Two of the planes landed at the Italian-US air base in Sicily, while tracking for the third disappeared “near Malta.” Italian defence authorities later confirmed that one Israeli C-130 had landed at the Sicilian base.
In addition, two Israeli surveillance aircraft were reported to have orbited the Strait of Sicily before returning to Israel with the Hercules aircraft.
Asked about the reports, Abela insisted there was no indication that Malta’s airspace had been breached. “I am not aware of any aircraft or other type of flying object that entered our airspace irregularly,” he said.
The government has not issued further clarification on whether Malta’s radar systems detected any unusual activity.
The incident comes amid heightened monitoring of military movements across the central Mediterranean.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
