Syria’s Aleppo airport out of service after Israel’s airstrike

Suspected Israeli airstrikes hit the Aleppo international airport in northern Syria early Tuesday morning, rendering it out of service since 2:07 a.m. local time. 

The Syrian military said Israel carried out an “aerial act of aggression” on the airport at the time and that the Israeli aircraft came from the west. There was material damage and the airport was left out of service, Syria’s official news outlet SANA reported. 

By the time of publishing early Tuesday evening Aleppo time, there was no indication that service at the airport had resumed. 

SANA did not report any casualties, nor did the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Aleppo-bound flights were rerouted to the Damascus and Latakia airports as a result of the attack.

SANA’s Arabic-language channel on Telegram reported at 10:13 a.m. local time that an assessment of damage had begun at the airport. 

Why it matters: Israel is suspected of carrying out regular airstrikes on Syria, though Israel rarely confirms these operations. The strikes target Syrian and Iranian military sites.

The following is a breakdown of the suspected Israeli airstrikes on Syria that have taken place so far this year, according to AFP: 

• On Jan. 2, Israel hit the Damascus airport with missiles, killing two soldiers. 
• On Feb. 18, Israel struck a Syrian state security building in Damascus, killing 15 people. It also hit a warehouse used by Iran-backed and Hezbollah fighters. 
• On Mar. 7, Israel hit targets south of Damascus with missiles. The Syrian government said two civilians were killed, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the victims were members of a pro-Iran militia. 

Israel also allegedly struck a warehouse used by Iran-backed militias at the Aleppo airport in September, AFP reported. 

Israel is concerned about the Iranian and allied military presence in neighboring Syria due to Iran’s history of threatening Israel and funding proxies like Lebanon’s Hezbollah that fight Israel. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has recently stepped up its military planning against Iran’s nuclear program, Al-Monitor’s Ben Caspit reported in February. 

Know more: Many supporters of the Syrian government criticized Israel for the Aleppo airport attack, pointing out that earthquake-related aid deliveries to Syria depend on the facility. 

Last night, the terrorist apartheid colonial entity of Israel attacked Aleppo airport where the earthquake devastated city receives most of its relief aid. All relief is now halted until the airport is operational again! #IsraeliTerrorism pic.twitter.com/4L2qyhgbp6

— Fares Shehabi فارس الشهابي (@ShehabiFares) March 7, 2023

Syria also receives aid via its airports in Damascus and Latakia. SANA reported today that an Emirati aid plane delivered 25 tons of aid to Damascus on Tuesday. 

🟢Aid🇦🇪:
SANA reporter: An #Emirati plane carrying 25 tons and 180 kg of relief #aid for those affected by the earthquake arrives at Damascus International Airport pic.twitter.com/SRV0llSsIo

— SANAEnglishOfficial (@SANAEnOfficial) March 7, 2023