Aleppo International Airport (ALP) in Syria was targeted by an Israeli airstrike, causing substantial damage to its runway and rendering it inoperative.
According to a statement issued by the Syrian Ministry of Defense and shared by the state-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency, the attack occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time.
Israeli fighter jets launched their air raid from the Mediterranean Sea, entering the Syrian airspace near the coastal city of Latakia. The primary target of the assault was Aleppo International Airport and the adjacent Al-Nayrab air base, which Israel suspects to be used by Iran-backed militias as a logistical hub.
The specific aircraft model employed in the operation was not mentioned. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) possesses a fighter fleet that includes the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the F-35 Lightning II.
Back in May 2018, the IAF made headlines when it disclosed having used its F-35 “Adir” (“Mighty One”) for targeted attacks in Syria and Lebanon, making Israel the first nation to employ this aircraft in a combat operation.
Aleppo International Airport has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli strikes since the beginning of 2023. This new attack marks the fifth time that the airport was made inoperable in a year, with previous strikes occurring in September 2022, twice in March 2023, and in May 2023.
