A two-day-old baby born in Cyprus to Syrian refugee parents with a severe heart defect was flown to Israel in a special life-saving operation overnight at the Sheba Medical Center.

The infant was flown to Israel following overtures from the Cyprus Ministry of Health to Israeli Ambassador Sammy Rabal.

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri authorized the entry of the baby and his father to Israel, and the infant was hospitalized in the NICU.