The Israeli firefighting aircraft welcomed in Athens Israel’s ambassador to Greece Noam Katz.

“It was a great honor to welcome the Israeli firefighting aircraft and personnel who will work alongside their Greek counterparts to fight the fires in Greece. We’re in this together!” emphasizes in his post on Twitter the Israeli ambassador, citing photos from the reception.

It is recalled that the two firefighting aircraft from the Eland Squadron arrived in Athens to help in extinguishing firesfollowing a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His government Israel will stand by Greece as it fights massive fires and appreciates its contribution to extinguishing forest fires in Israel over the past decade, the Israeli Prime Minister announced in a message on Twitter yesterday.

The assistance includes two Airtractor aircraft from the aerial firefighting squadron along with a team of four pilots, specialist ground crews and forest fire specialists as well as associated equipment. The firefighting planes are accompanied by an Israeli Air Force transport aircraft. Assistance is provided by the Ministry of National Security and the Israel Fire and Rescue Service.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said: “In coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office, I ordered the takeoff of the firefighting aircraft, which these days are prepared for any scenario. The firefighting operations of the teams will be coordinated with the firefighting forces on site. The rapid preparation of the teams was made possible thanks to the cooperation of all partners.”

Cooperated in the relief operation: the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of National Security, the Israel Fire and Rescue Service, the Israel Police Aviation Unit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Armed Forces, the Israeli Ambassador and the Greek Embassy.

In a statement, Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated that Greece is a friendly country that needs our help and we will mobilize the necessary means to help it. It is noted that Eli Cohen was the first Foreign Minister of a foreign country that Giorgos Gerapetritis met after assuming the portfolio of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“During my visit to Athens about a week ago, I assured my colleague, the Greek foreign minister, that the relationship between Greece and Israel is deep and strategic, and this friendship is measured even in difficult times like now. Israel will not stand idly by.

Following the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Office, we are in contact with the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Defense, as well as the Israel Police to join forces and provide assistance in the fastest and most effective way for the Greeks,” the Israeli Foreign Minister underlined.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen yesterday instructed all Foreign Ministry officials, led by the Ministry’s Director General Ronen Levy (Maoz), to provide any assistance needed to the Greeks.