Israeli strikes targeted Syria’s two main airports on Thursday, in the first such attack since a recent escalation in the conflict. Syrian state television reported that the “Israeli aggression targets Damascus and Aleppo airports,” but provided no further details. Reports suggest that the strikes hit the runways of Syria’s airports, activating the country’s air defense systems. As a result, all flights in and out of Syria have been cancelled. This is not the first time Israeli strikes have disrupted air travel in Syria, as previous attacks have also grounded flights in Aleppo and the capital, Damascus.
The recent strikes occurred amidst ongoing clashes between Hamas and Israel. The violence began when hundreds of Hamas militants crossed the Gaza border into Israel, resulting in a significant loss of civilian lives. Coincidentally, these strikes took place during a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Additionally, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a phone call with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, called on Arab and Islamic countries to unite against Israel.
Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes in Syria over the past decade, targeting Iranian-backed forces, Hezbollah fighters, and Syrian army positions. Although Israel rarely comments on individual strikes, it has consistently expressed its opposition to Iran’s expanding influence in Syria, given its support for the Assad government. Iran, which also supports Hamas, celebrated the recent assault on Israel, despite denying direct involvement in it.