Israel launched missile attacks on Aleppo International Airport on Tuesday evening, most of which were successfully intercepted by the Syrian air defense forces. While there have been no reports of casualties so far, the main runway of the airport has been severely damaged. A correspondent for "Sputnik" in Latakia reported that loud explosions were heard around the city due to the air defense forces intercepting Israeli missiles that entered Syrian airspace from the direction of the Syrian coast towards Aleppo.
An security source mentioned that the Syrian air defense's intercepting missiles countered an Israeli missile aggression targeting Aleppo International Airport, adding, "The aggression occurred with a missile wave launched from off the Syrian coast." The source further stated, "The intercepting missiles successfully destroyed most of the hostile missiles in the sky of the coastal region, and technical teams are conducting a comprehensive assessment of the damages caused by the Israeli aggression in preparation for a public announcement once it is complete."
However, an informed source at Aleppo International Airport revealed to "Sputnik" that "significant material damage" occurred to the main runway due to the Israeli aggression. The Israeli shelling on Aleppo International Airport led to its closure due to the serious damages it sustained, rendering it out of service. A series of explosions targeted the cities of Latakia and Aleppo in Syria, as reported by the Israeli broadcasting authority "Kan," while Syrian state media mentioned that the Israeli attack on Aleppo Airport resulted in material damages to the runway.
The Ministry of Transport announced that all scheduled and programmed flights through Aleppo International Airport will be redirected to Damascus International Airport due to the Israeli aggression that targeted the airport and caused it to go out of service. The ministry urged travelers to arrange their travel plans and flight schedules with relevant airlines and their offices until the damages from the aggression are repaired and the airport is operational again.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Israeli strikes also targeted the Al-Malkiya neighborhood near Aleppo Airport, specifically warehouses belonging to Iranian-backed militias, resulting in their destruction and igniting fires. Local Syrian media reported that explosions were heard in the coastal city of Latakia as well, with some reports mentioning that missiles were visible to the naked eye.
