Israeli airstrikes destroy Syria’s Damascus, Aleppo Airports

Israeli airstrikes on Sunday resulted in the closure of Syria’s two main airports, as reported by state media, citing a military source. The country’s transport ministry redirected flights to Latakia.

These strikes have previously disrupted flights at government-controlled airports in Damascus and Aleppo. This marks the second time simultaneous strikes have impacted these facilities since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began this month.

“At around 5:25 am (0225 GMT), the Israeli enemy carried out… an air attack… targeting Damascus and Aleppo international airports, leading to the death of a civilian worker at Damascus airport and wounding another,” the military source said in the statement carried by state news agency SANA.

“Material damage to the airports’ runways put them out of service,” the statement added. The transport ministry said flights were diverted to Latakia airport.

According to the military source, the “simultaneous” strikes originated “from the direction of the Mediterranean west of Latakia and from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan.”

On October 12, simultaneous strikes affected both Damascus and Aleppo airports, Syria reported.

In a separate incident last weekend, Israeli strikes targeted Aleppo airport, injuring five people and rendering it inoperable, as per a war monitor and authorities.

Throughout more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes in its northern neighbor. These strikes primarily targeted Iran-backed forces, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, and Syrian army positions.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has consistently expressed its intent to prevent Iran, which supports President Bashar al-Assad’s government, from expanding its presence in the region.