Alleged Israeli Strike on Syrian Airport

Israel has apparently launched two missile attacks on the Syrian airport of Aleppo in the space of a few days. According to Syrian state media, some missiles were successfully intercepted. 

Flights destined for Aleppo have been diverted to the Damascus airport. 

The target of the attacks, the latest of which is reported to have led to the death of three people, was apparently a warehouse that was storing materials used by a militia group with ties to Iran. 

Some analysts are interpreting the strikes as a message 1) to Iran, to scale back its support for groups like Hezbollah, now that its position has strengthened as a consequence of the recent resumption of nuclear talks, as well as 2) to Syria, to scale back its collaboration with Iran. 

Insofar as the Biden Presidency supports reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Israel’s actions may be interpreted as displaying the country’s ability to pursue an independent policy to that of the U.S., or else as a counterweight to weaken the Iranian position and prevent a future nuclear deal from accompanying the rise of Iran as a regional hegemon.