DAMASCUS: Israeli warplanes struck Aleppo airport before dawn on Tuesday, causing significant damage that halted flights to and from Syria’s quake-hit second city.

Syria’s transport ministry said it would re-route flights carrying quake aid following the attack that put Aleppo International Airport out of commission. It said flights would now land in Damascus or Latakia airports.

The airport has been a major conduit for aid flights since the Feb 6 quake devastated swathes of Turkiye and Syria, but they were brought to a stop, a transport official said.

“At exactly 2:07 am (2307 GMT Monday), the Israeli enemy carried out an air attack from the Mediterranean west of Latakia targeting Aleppo international airport,” Syria’s defence ministry said in a statement.

An Israeli military spokesperson declined to comment.

It marked the second Israeli attack on government-held areas since the devastating quake in Turkiye and Syria resulted in over 50,000 deaths. Earlier on February 19, an Israeli strike killed 15 people in a Damascus district.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2023