Mystery flight: Did the UAE host a US weapons delivery to Israel or Ukraine?

An Antonov An-124 aircraft, carrying US weapons bound for Israel, was hosted by the United Arab Emirates, according to reports. The aircraft was carrying US Oshkosh trucks loaded with a large amount of military equipment, according to Iranian media.

According to reports, the transport plane landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on Friday, after which the trucks were loaded back onto the aircraft, which returned to the UAE. It also took a short stopover in Georgia, the report added.  

Many believe the aircraft belonged to Ukraine and was actually taking the weapons from Israel to Ukraine. It is believed that the aircraft was loaded with parts, spares and  missiles for the Patriot air defence system, which Israel took out of service, and is  now transferring to Ukraine.

The delivery of weapons was part of the US supply of weapons to Ukraine.

However, the incident set tongues wagging online, not only for the irony of the UAE hosting the weapon-laden aircraft, but also for how a Soviet-made Antonov An-124 aircraft was used for the purpose.

One user wrote: “An Antonov-124 cargo plane from the UAE landed at Ben Gurion Airport loaded with American military trucks and heavy equipment for Israel. A full supply line running through the Gulf straight into Tel Aviv — quietly, seamlessly, out of sight.”

“Arabs are helping Jews destroy GAZA. Same UAE helping Sudan rivals killing Sudanies,” another user said.

Another highlighted the irony of the incident. “The Soviet Antonov developers would be  turning in their graves if they knew that their planes, after 45 years, would be used to transport Israeli missiles to Ukraine to strike Russia!  Currently, there are only 15 An-124 aircraft in service around the world:  13 aircraft in the hands of the Russian army, 1 with Ukraine and 1 with the UAE. Yet, the single Ukrainian aircraft is turning into an air bridge between Kyiv and Tel Aviv!”, he wrote.