Syria's two largest airports paralyzed by Israeli missiles

Israeli airstrikes on Syria's largest international airports, Damascus and Aleppo, damaged runways, forcing both sites to shut down.

"Israel carried out missile strikes on Damascus and Aleppo international airports at 5:25 a.m., killing one civilian employee and injuring another. The runways were damaged, forcing both airports to stop operating," Syrian state news agency SANA said today.

Missile trails in the sky over Damascus during an Israeli airstrike in 2020. Photo: Reuters — Missile trails in the sky over Damascus during an Israeli airstrike in 2020. Photo: *Reuters*

An unnamed Syrian military source said Israeli aircraft launched missiles from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea and the Golan Heights. The Syrian Transport Ministry later announced that all flights to the two locations would be diverted to Latakia International Airport.

This is the second time that Damascus and Aleppo airports, Syria's largest civilian aviation facilities, have been attacked simultaneously since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted earlier this month. The Israeli military has previously attacked individual targets, rather than simultaneously hitting Syrian airports.

Since the outbreak of hostilities in Syria in 2011, Israel has repeatedly struck targets in its northern neighbor, including Syrian government military positions as well as Hezbollah and Iran-backed militia groups.

Israel has stepped up its air campaign targeting Damascus International Airport and other civilian aviation infrastructure in Syria since 2022, aiming to disrupt the flow of weapons from Iran to Syria and Lebanon.

Location of the capital Damascus and major cities of Syria. Graphics: AP

Israel rarely comments on its air strikes, but admits to carrying out hundreds of strikes in Syria. Israeli officials say the air campaign is necessary to prevent Iran, which Israel regards as its "arch-enemy", from strengthening its strategic position in Syria.

Vu Anh (According to AFP )

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