The official Syrian News Agency (SANA) reported that, on Sunday evening, the Israeli aircraft carried out an air strike targeting Damascus International Airport, which led to its temporary removal from service, killing two soldiers and wounding two others.
The SANA news agency quoted a military source as saying that Israel carried out an air attack, with a barrage of missiles, targeting Damascus International Airport and its surroundings, at around 2:00 am.
It added that the attack caused “the death of two soldiers… and the removal of Damascus International Airport from service.”
According to an official notification sent by the Syrian aviation authorities, both runways at Damascus airport were closed after the strike.
However, the Syrian Ministry of Transport said in a later statement that the airport would reopen at 9:00 am, after the authorities removed “the damage caused by the Israeli aggression” and carried out repairs to the damaged sites.
There was no comment from the Israeli military, which generally does not confirm such strikes on an individual basis.
Last June, airstrikes attributed to Israel hit Damascus International Airport, causing great damage and rendering the main runway inoperable. The airport was opened two weeks later after repairs.
Strikes have been reported at the airport in previous years as well.
Restoration work at Damascus International Airport after an airstrike attributed to Israel, June 12, 2022 (SANA)
In general, relatively large weapons are believed to be smuggled through Syria on Iranian shipping lines, which often land at Damascus International Airport and Tiyas, or T-4, outside the city of Palmyra in central Syria.
The weapons are then believed to have been stored in warehouses in the area before being trucked back to Lebanon.
In recent months, Israel has also targeted Aleppo International Airport several times, according to Syria.
As a rule, the Israeli military does not comment on specific strikes in Syria, but has admitted to carrying out hundreds of strikes against Iranian-backed groups trying to gain a foothold in the country.
The Israeli army says it is also attacking arms shipments believed to be destined for those groups, led by the Lebanese Hezbollah.
In addition, airstrikes attributed to Israel have repeatedly targeted Syrian air defense systems.
The recent strikes in Syria, attributed to Israel, continued December 19th And the 20when it was reported that a secret Hezbollah drone site was targeted near the city of Homs in northwestern Syria, and several other sites in the Damascus area were hit.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
