Syrian army sources have reported that a series of recent Israeli missile strikes paralysed operations at the Damascus International Airport for a short period. Two soldiers were killed, and two more wounded. Although flights have now resumed, this is the second time the Damascus airport has had to shut down in the last year.
This comes in the context of several Israeli strikes on Syrian territory, including in southern Damascus, which recently resulted in the death of several Syrian servicemen.
Israel has justified the attacks, which intensified last September, as targeting Iranian and Iranian-backed forces, such as Hezbollah. Israel also struck a convoy entering Syria through the Iraqi border which it claimed was carrying Iranian weapons.
Disrupting civilian airports, in this context, would be aimed at slowing Iran’s ability to use airplane travel to deliver arms.
Iran has supported President Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s ongoing civil conflict.
