Israel Defense Forces missile launchers illegally transported through Irish airspace

Silkway Airlines illegally transported missile launchers for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) F-35 fighter jets through Irish territory – just weeks after The Ditch told government the airline was using Irish airspace to transport weapons to Tel Aviv.

Foreign affairs minister Harris has said this month he doesn’t “believe” weaponry is being flown to Israel through Irish airspace. Harris said “the ability” to know this “is a real challenge”.

The missile components were allowed through even though the IDF uses the same combat jets to kill people in Gaza.

Israel-bound munitions of war are still illegally transiting through Irish sovereign airspace despite government being aware of the issue for r more than seven months.

The Ditch reported last September that Silkway Airlines had been bringing Israeli weapons through Irish airspace since at least April 2024. 

Weeks later another Silkway Airlines aircraft transported tonnes of IDF munitions through Irish airspace. 

New documents obtained by The Ditch this month confirm the munitions transported on the 7 October, 2024 flight included parts specially designed to launch missiles from F-35 jets.

Among the components onboard the October 2024 flight were two LAU-151/A’s, an “external rail launcher… integrated with the F-35 and used for the carriage and release of either a AIM-9X Sidewinder or AIM-120 AMRAAM missile”.

The Silkway Airlines aircraft also transported six air-to-ground pylons. These are mounted onto the IDF’s F-35s and used to carry missiles.

United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese in April urged the Irish government to take action over the transport of Israeli weapons through Irish airspace.