Israel's Airstrikes on Syrian Airports Ignite Regional Tensions

In a recent development, Israel has initiated missile strikes on Syria's primary international airports, specifically targeting Damascus and Aleppo. These attacks have effectively disrupted air travel and heightened regional tensions, all amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Syrian state media has reported that these Israeli attacks have inflicted damage upon the runways and essential airport facilities, compelling flights to divert to Latakia, a coastal city situated in north-west Syria. While there were no casualties reported, the airstrikes resulted in significant material damage and disrupted both civil and military aviation operations.

SANA, Syria's official news agency, cited a military source who characterized these attacks as a "desperate" attempt by Israel to divert attention from its actions in Gaza. It is worth noting that the Gaza conflict has witnessed substantial casualties, with over 1,400 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,300 Israelis.

Despite these events, Israel has not officially confirmed or denied its involvement in the Syrian airstrikes. If confirmed, this would mark Israel's first direct involvement in the Syrian theater since the outbreak of the Gaza war. In the past, Israel has targeted both Syrian and Iranian positions in Syria, accusing them of providing support and weaponry to Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group aligned with Hamas and allied with President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the Syrian civil war.

These airstrikes in Syria come just one day prior to the scheduled visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to Damascus. His regional tour encompasses Iraq and Lebanon as well. Iran staunchly supports both Hamas and Hezbollah and has openly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" and "terrorism." Iran has further disavowed any involvement in planning or executing the recent Hamas attack on Israel, which it celebrated as a "victory" for Palestinian resistance.

Israel's actions in Syria have garnered strong condemnation from Russia, which maintains its alliance with President Bashar al-Assad and maintains a military presence in the country. Russia's foreign ministry has voiced concern over the safety of innocent civilians and international air traffic due to these strikes and has cautioned that they may provoke armed escalation in the region.

Additionally, the airstrikes raise the possibility of retaliation from Hezbollah, an organization possessing a substantial arsenal of rockets and missiles capable of reaching Israel. While Hezbollah has not directly intervened in the Gaza conflict thus far, it has expressed solidarity with Hamas and launched some rockets across the border with Israel in recent days. Consequently, Israel has strengthened its northern border in anticipation of potential Hezbollah actions and remains committed to its offensive in Gaza until it neutralizes Hamas' military capabilities.