Syrian television reported between Monday and Tuesday on an Israeli attack on the airport in the city of Aleppo that caused large explosions. According to a Syrian military source quoted in the report, the airport was shut down due to damage caused by the attack on the only runway in the airport. It was also reported that at this stage there are no known casualties from the attack.
According to the announcement of the Civil Aviation Authority of Syria, the runway was indeed closed, but due to work on site. However, often after attacks at the airport, similar messages come out from the Authority.
Northern Syria: According to Syrian reports, sites associated with Assad and the Iranian militias were attacked at โโthe Aleppo airport area
โ Adam Albilya - ืืื ืืืืืืื (@AdamAlbilya) March 7, 2023
Following the attack, which is attributed to Israel, a Syrian source said: "The airport was heavily damaged and was put out of use". pic.twitter.com/FbeBaXhz5v
Already two weeks ago, Israel warned that Iran was planning to disguise shipments of ammunition that would pass through Aleppo airport as humanitarian shipments to areas affected by the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey about a month ago. Israel also announced that it would not hesitate to attack such shipments.
The recent Aleppo attack is the second attack attributed to Israel in Syria since the earthquake that claimed thousands of victims. According to the official Syrian news agency, the previous attack took place about two and a half weeks ago in the Damascus neighborhood of Kfar Susa, where Iranian presence was previously reported.
VIDEO (mostly just audio): pic.twitter.com/jn5jhPVBWZ
โ Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) March 6, 2023
According to a Syrian military source, five people were killed and 15 others were wounded in the attack in Kfar Susa. However, Syrian opposition officials and other reliable Middle Eastern sources said that it was a Syrian anti-aircraft missile, which was fired at the attacking planes, that exploded in the neighborhood and caused damage to the buildings.
The previous attack, for which Israel has yet to confirm its responsibility, came as a response to an attack by the Iranians on a tanker partially owned by the Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.
Syrian media is now reporting a series of explosions in the north. It is currently believed that the explosions are an attack on Iranian militia targets at an airport in Aleppo. https://t.co/7j1o1kMLwW
โ Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) March 6, 2023
Meanwhile, the Aleppo attack comes amid the announcement of 37 reserve pilots in the IDFโs 69th Fighter Squadron that they will not show up for training, and only attend reserves for actual missions, in protest of the judicial reform. Squadron 69 is considered one of the most important squadrons in the IDF, which has led many of the strikes in Syria on behalf of the IDFโs Air Force. According to IDF officials, it is not possible for a pilot to choose which type of reserves he reports to, and all duties are mandatory, both training and combat.
