Damascus Airport Inoperable Again After Israeli Air Strikes

Damascus airport in Syria was hit by air strikes on Sunday. This happened just a few hours after the airport started working again. Last month, there was a similar attack. Reports from Syrian media say the strikes targeted Damascus International Airport and other places near the capital.

Recent Strike on Damascus Airport

In a recent development, Damascus airport in Syria was struck by Israeli air strikes on Sunday. This attack rendered the airport inoperative, just a few hours after it had resumed operations following a previous strike last month. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, confirmed the incident, which was also reported by Syrian state media.

According to Arab News, the air strikes, conducted by Israeli warplanes in the afternoon, specifically targeted Damascus airport, leading to a temporary shutdown. The attack focused on the airport's runways. Additionally, an explosion was heard from the direction of a military airport in the Mazzeh area, situated on the opposite side of Damascus.

The strikes resulted in injuries to an officer and two other personnel. These injuries were reported to be at an air defense base in the Mazzeh area. A military source, quoted by the Syrian state news agency SANA, stated that the attack was launched from the occupied Syrian Golan area at around 4:50 pm local time.

Damascus airport, along with several locations in the surrounding countryside, suffered material damages due to the strikes. Syrian air defenses claimed to have destroyed most of the incoming missiles.

Israel has been actively conducting air strikes in Syria since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011. These strikes often target forces backed by Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, and Syrian army positions, the report stated. The frequency of these attacks has increased following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, which began on Oct. 7.

Previously, similar Israeli strikes on Oct.12 and Oct. 22 had disrupted operations at both Damascus airport and Aleppo airport in the north. Following the Oct. 22 strikes, flights were redirected to Latakia, a city on Syria's west coast.

While Israel seldom comments on individual strikes in Syria, it has consistently stated its intention to prevent Iran, a supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, from expanding its influence in the region.

Deadly Strike on Aleppo, Damascus Airports

On Oct. 22, two workers lost their lives due to an Israeli bombardment on Damascus airport in Syria. The attack led to the shutdown of Syria's two main airports during the ongoing conflict.

Alarabiya News reported that the strikes, which are part of a series of recent events, disabled both Damascus airport and Aleppo airport in the north. The transport ministry announced that flights were being redirected to Latakia, a city on the west coast.

In the past, Israeli strikes have often led to flights being suspended at these government-controlled airports. However, the deadly strike was the second time in October that both airports have been hit simultaneously. Also, the month was marked the beginning of a conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Alarabiya News disclosed that the latest strikes happened at the same time. They were launched from the west of Latakia over the Mediterranean Sea and from the direction of the Golan Heights, which Israel occupies.

Previously, on Oct. 12, Damascus aiport was rendered inoperative due to simultaneous strikes. After that, another strike targeted Aleppo airport, injuring five people. That attack also forced the airport to shut down, as confirmed by the authorities.

Over more than ten years of conflict in Syria, Israel has carried out numerous air strikes against its northern neighbor. These strikes primarily target forces backed by Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, and positions of the Syrian army.

Israel seldom makes public comments about its strikes in Syria. However, it has consistently stated its determination to prevent Iran, a major supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, from increasing its influence in the region.