Israeli F-35 land at "Ovda airbase" during the bi-annual multi-national aerial exercise known as the Blue Flag, near "Eilat", occupied southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021 (AP Photo)

The Israeli newspaper "Israel Hayom" reported Wednesday that it "received internal assurances that the soldiers of the Israeli occupation forces will be allowed to fly over Saudi Arabia."

The newspaper pointed out that this indicates that flight times to the Far East and the Seychelles Islands will be shorter.

This comes in response to the newspaper's previous reports that the permanent service soldiers and other soldiers will not be allowed to fly over Saudi Arabia and Oman on their way to targets in the east.

Saudi Arabia opens airspace for all civil air carriers for overflying

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced in mid-July that Saudi Arabia is opening its airspace for all civil air carriers for overflying.

CNN also cited sources familiar with the matter that Saudi Arabia was planning to permit flights to and from the occupied lands.

Riyadh’s decision was planned amid US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East, including to "Israel" and Saudi Arabia, the source told the media, calling the move a "small symbol of the budding relations" between the two nations.

GACA claims the decision comes as part of Riyadh's desire to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1944, which stipulates non-discrimination between civil aircraft used in international air navigation, as well as to complement the country's "efforts aimed at consolidating the Kingdom's position as a global hub connecting three continents and to enhance international air connectivity."

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— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) July 14, 2022

The Israeli occupation was thankful to Saudi Arabia for its incremental step toward official normalization.

In this context, Israeli Transport Minister Merav Michaeli on Friday welcomed as an "important step" Saudi Arabia's decision to lift restrictions on all carriers using its airspace.

"Israeli flights will be allowed in Saudi Arabian airspace. This is an important step by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that will significantly shorten flight times and lower prices," Michaeli said in a statement.