On Monday, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Aleppo airport in northern Syria, causing damage to the runway and grounding flights, as reported by the Syrian state news agency SANA
Israeli air strikes on Aleppo airport in northern Syria caused the grounding of flights on Monday, Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing a military source.
During more than 12 years of civil war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its territory, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, and Syrian army positions.
“At about 4:30 am (0130 GMT) this morning, the Israeli enemy undertook an aerial aggression from the direction of the Mediterranean west of Latakia, targeting Aleppo International Airport,” the source said, adding that this resulted in damage to the runway.
Israel rarely comments on strikes it carries out in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow its arch-foe Iran to expand its presence there.
An Israeli army spokesperson on Monday said: “We do not comment on reports in the foreign media.”
Syrian transport ministry official Suleiman Khalil said the damage centered on the only functioning runway, adding that “maintenance teams will start repair work today to return the airport to service as quickly as possible.”
Flights were diverted to Damascus and Latakia airports, he informed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes also targeted weapons depots at the adjacent Nayrab military airport.
Israeli strikes have repeatedly caused the grounding of flights at the airports in Aleppo and the capital, Damascus, controlled by the government.
Miroslava Salazar, with AFP
