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El Al has called off plans to begin nonstop service between Israel and Hanoi after Israeli security authorities declined to authorize the route to operate with Israeli aircraft and flight crews.

The airline announced Thursday that the direct flights to Vietnam’s capital, which had been scheduled to begin in October, will no longer move forward because the necessary security clearance was ultimately denied.

El Al first unveiled the new route in February and had already begun selling tickets. However, with the inaugural flight only two months away, the carrier decided it had no choice but to abandon the launch.

According to the airline, it had initially received preliminary approval from all relevant government agencies, including security officials, before announcing the service. After investing significant time and resources into operational and commercial preparations, El Al said it was later informed that the final authorization needed to operate the route would not be granted.

The airline said the decision stemmed from Israeli security officials responsible for protecting the country’s aviation sector, who, following Shin Bet security guidelines, determined that they could not approve flights to Hanoi under the proposed operating arrangement using Israeli aircraft and crews. Without that approval, El Al said it was unable to proceed with the new route.

Passengers who already purchased tickets will be offered several alternatives, including rerouting to Hanoi through Bangkok on a connecting flight operated by a foreign airline at no additional cost, transferring their booking to another El Al destination, receiving a full refund, or accepting a travel voucher for future use.

El Al said the affected flights will be removed from its reservation system gradually based on their scheduled departure dates. Beginning next week, customers with bookings on the canceled route will receive direct notifications outlining their available options.

Despite El Al’s decision to cancel the service, Israeli travelers will still have access to direct flights to Hanoi through Arkia, which already operates the route.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth told members of Congress on Thursday that the United States is fully prepared to keep its economic blockade of Iran in place for as long as necessary, insisting the U.S. military has both the resources and determination to sustain the operation indefinitely.

Appearing before lawmakers during hearings on the defense budget, Hegseth said the naval blockade can remain in effect without a time limit because the U.S. Navy has the ability to continuously rotate its fleet while maintaining a strong presence in the region.

“We can hold this blockade as long as needed. Indefinitely, the US Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we’ll rotate ships in and out as we have and will continue to. No other nation on earth, no other navy on earth has the capability to have a ‘wall of steel’ like the US Navy, and then the willingness to use it, as we have.”

Hegseth said the strategy is designed to gradually weaken Iran’s economy, emphasizing that the United States has no intention of backing down.

“We have the capability, the will, and the patience” to let the blockade wear down Iran’s economy, Hegseth said.

The defense chief also revealed that the blockade effort is expanding beyond the United States, saying more countries have joined the campaign. He added that while Washington continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution, military force remains on the table if negotiations collapse.

“If diplomacy fails, we are ready to strike,” he said.

{Matzav.com}