Israeli airstrikes targeted the airports of the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, as announced by Syrian state television, just before the plane carrying the Iranian Minister of Foreign affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, was set to land.
Israeli airstrikes targeted the airports of the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, as announced by Syrian state television, just before the plane carrying the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, was set to land.
“Israeli warplanes target Damascus and Aleppo airports,” the Syrian state television reported on the Telegram messaging app without providing additional details.
Israeli strikes have repeatedly caused flights to be grounded at the Aleppo and Damascus airports, both of which are controlled by the government of war-torn Syria.
But according to various media, the Israeli strike preceded the landing of the plane carrying Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who is touring the region to discuss the war in Gaza. Abdollahian was scheduled to visit Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
“The Iranian aircraft altered its course back to Tehran in response to airstrikes attributed to Israel at the international airports in Damascus and Aleppo,” Haaretz reported.
During more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its northern neighbor, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions.
Israel rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on Syria, but it has repeatedly said it would not allow its arch-foe Iran, which supports Assad’s government, to expand its footprint there.
Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated Hamas’ assault on Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.
With AFP
