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United Airlines illegally transported US government-supplied gun components for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) through Irish territory this month.

Shannon Airport celebrated its “long-standing partnership” with United Airlines earlier this year, with its director saying it had “delivered lasting benefits for the region".

The 3 October Newark-Tel Aviv passenger flight carried more than two tonnes of Elbit Systems military parts for Israeli forces over Donegal,

The parts included a gunner collimator and a gunner day optical sight, components used to fire from the IDF’s armoured tanks.

The shipment was supplied under the US Foreign Military Sales programme through which the US government provides cost-price defence articles to Israel.

The carriage of munitions of war through Irish sovereign airspace without authorisation from the transport minister is an indictable criminal offence under Irish air navigation law.

Government has repeatedly refused to enforce the legislation for more than two years.

Shannon Airport celebrated its “long-standing partnership” with United Airlines earlier this year, with its director saying it had “delivered lasting benefits for the region".

The Ditch previously reported that United Airlines illegally transported ammunition handling systems and other military parts – totalling more than two tonnes – through Irish airspace in August last year.

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