Syrian airport continues to receive Israeli missiles

Syria says Israel has struck Aleppo airport for the fourth time in two weeks, damaging the runway.

The Syrian Defense Ministry on October 25 accused Israel of attacking Aleppo airport, adding that the attack came from the direction of the Mediterranean, west of Latakia. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that no one was injured in the incident.

Syrian Transport Ministry official Suleiman Khalil confirmed that the Aleppo airport runway was attacked. "Aleppo airport was about to be repaired and flights were scheduled, but it was once again shut down," Khalil said.

Israel previously carried out airstrikes on Aleppo airport on October 12, 14, and 22. The move was believed to be aimed at disrupting arms supplies from Iran to Syria and Lebanon.

Aleppo airport, Syria, February 14. Photo: Reuters — Aleppo airport, Syria, February 14. Photo: *Reuters*

The Syrian Defense Ministry also accused Israel of carrying out airstrikes from the Golan Heights, killing eight Syrian soldiers and wounding seven. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights meanwhile said the death toll was 11.

"The airstrikes destroyed Syrian weapons depots and air defense radars and targeted an infantry unit," the group said in a statement.

The Israeli military said on the same day that its fighter jets had "attacked Syrian military infrastructure" in response to previous raids.

After the airstrike, residents in Daraa province described Israeli planes dropping leaflets asking the Syrian army and Palestinian forces in the country not to attack.

"Syrian commanders bear full responsibility for operations from Syrian territory," Israel wrote in the leaflet, adding that any attack on the country would be met with an "iron fist".

Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria over the past decade, mainly targeting Iranian-backed forces as well as Syrian military positions.

The recent airstrikes in Syria come amid escalating regional tensions over the Hamas-Israel conflict. Many fear that the fighting could exacerbate existing conflicts between Israel and Syria and some armed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, causing the conflict to spread.