Calls For Immediate Suspension Of US Military Activity At Shannon Airport During Gaza Conflict

The government is being urged to immediately suspend all US military activity at Shannon Airport in light of the escalating conflict in Gaza. It comes as protestors have occupied the Department of Transport building in Dublin today calling for weapons checks to be carried out on all flights carrying US troops at the Clare base. Under the current agreement between the US military and the Irish Government, aircraft may refuel at Shannon provided they are unarmed, not transporting weapons or ammunition, they are not in transit to a war zone and are not involved in intelligence gathering missions. Between January and July of this year however, the government granted 115 exemptions which allowed weaponry on both inbound and outbound flights from Shannon.