Following intensive efforts in Greece by the Israeli teams, the operational activity in the air and on the ground has been successfully completed. With the conclusion of the operation, the teams and aircraft are expected to depart for Israel shortly. A festive closing ceremony was held, accompanied by the Israeli Ambassador to Greece and other dignitaries. The firefighting planes will take off first, followed by the teams on the Air Force's "Rhino" aircraft.

During the past two days, the Israeli aid mission's aircraft operated under extreme temperatures, exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, during firefighting efforts. The planes conducted numerous sorties in a coordinated structure that involved both Israeli and Greek aircraft, dropping substantial quantities of water from the air.

Superintendent Chaim Bar-Gil, from the Israel Police Air Division, who served as the mission commander, stated: "The Israeli team successfully completed the mission, and the operational and professional cooperation enabled us to meet tight schedules. Our primary focus was to suppress the fires, preventing further outbreaks, and despite challenging weather conditions, we achieved our goal. We worked in coordination with local and international teams, and with the situation under control, we agreed with the Greeks on concluding the operation in the region. With the planes' return, we are now in operational readiness to quickly respond to expected fires in Israel due to the significant rise in temperatures during the week."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "The firefighting planes of the 'Elad' squadron operated with great professionalism and completed the operational activity. The pilots and ground crews of the Fire and Rescue Services and the Israel Police have enabled the State of Israel to assist Greece during critical times."

Mr. Noam Katz, the Israeli ambassador to Greece, said, "The fires caused severe damage, mainly to the forest and buildings. The fires in Attica have calmed down, but a severe fire is still raging on Rhodes, and the Greeks and international forces are operating there. The Greeks express gratitude for Israeli assistance, and tomorrow morning a closing ceremony will be held before the teams return to Israel. The team's activity contributed to the friendly relations between the two countries, and soon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with his Greek counterpart in Cyprus."

The relief mission, led by the Ministry of National Security in coordination with the Israel Police Air Division and in collaboration with Fire and Rescue Services, includes a team of four pilots, skilled ground crews, wildfire experts, and accompanying equipment, jointly with the National Security Council of the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of National Security, Fire and Rescue Services, the Israel Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Emergency Management Authority, the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the Israeli Embassy in Greece, and the Israeli Embassy in Cyprus.

Photos from the celebratory closing ceremony, attended by the Israeli ambassador to Greece and the Israeli delegation led by the National Security Ministry, the Israel Police, and the Fire and Rescue Services, are below.