In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israeli strikes targeted Syria’s two main airports, Aleppo and Damascus, causing the cancellation of all flights, according to Syrian state television. The strikes, the first since the recent Hamas assault on Israel, triggered activation of Syria’s air defense systems.
Syrian state television reported the Israeli aggression on the messaging app Telegram, providing no additional details on the nature or extent of the attacks. Israeli strikes have previously led to the grounding of flights at Aleppo and Damascus airports, both under the control of the Syrian government.
The latest round of strikes occurred amid ongoing intense clashes between Hamas and Israel, which entered its sixth day. The conflict erupted after hundreds of Hamas gunmen crossed the Gaza border into Israel, resulting in the death of over 1,000 civilians.
Coinciding with the strikes, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel, emphasizing the complex diplomatic context. Additionally, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in a phone call with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, urged Arab and Islamic countries to collaborate in confronting Israel.
Throughout more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has conducted numerous air strikes, primarily targeting Iran-backed forces, Hezbollah fighters, and Syrian army positions. Israel rarely comments on specific strikes but has consistently expressed its determination to prevent Iran from expanding its influence in Syria.
Iran, a supporter of both Syria and Hamas, celebrated Hamas’ assault on Israel on Saturday. Despite such expressions, Iran maintained that it was not directly involved in the attack. The situation remains fluid, and the international community closely watches the developments in the region.
