Israeli airstrikes have reportedly targeted two major airports in Syria this afternoon.
Local media claimed that combined Israeli airstrikes have been conducted on both Damascus International Airport (DAM) and Aleppo International Airport.
Airstrikes on Damascus and Aleppo Airports
The attack aimed at the runways of the two major Syria airports, and have suffered significant damage as a result of the targeted strikes.
A NOTAM has been released this afternoon by the Syrian Government with regards to Damascus International Airport (DAM), stating that runways are currently closed, and citing the reason was “Works in Progress.”
According to local reports, both major airports are said to be out of service as a result of the attacks. The objective of this afternoon strikes was apparently to deter Iran from sending arms to bolster terrorist parties on Israel’s northern border.
Iran Foreign Minister aircraft diverts
According to the news source Visegrád 24, a commercial aircraft with the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on board was about to land at Damascus International Airport when the attacks occurred.
That aircraft, an Airbus A340-300 registered EP-MMC operated by Mahan Air, has now turned back to Tehran.
Mahan Air is a private Iranian airline based in Tehran, Iran. It was established in 1991 and began operations in 1992.
Mahan Air operates scheduled domestic services and international flights to the Far East, Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe. Its main hubs are Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
In 2011, the US Department of Treasury designated Mahan Air as a material and transportation supporter of terrorism, for providing financial, material, and technological support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).
This designation has led to a number of sanctions against the airline, including restrictions on its ability to purchase aircraft and spare parts. Despite the sanctions, Mahan Air remains a major player in the Iranian aviation industry.
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