Amir-Abdollahian Visits Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria; Israel Attacks Damascus and Aleppo Airports

Syrian state television reported that Israel attacked the main airports in Damascus and Aleppo on Thursday, October 12. According to the Jerusalem Post, following these attacks, an Iranian Mahan Air plane intending to land in Syria returned to Tehran. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly used Mahan Air and these two airports for the transfer of weapons and personnel. These attacks coincide with the beginning of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's trip to Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) claimed that Amir-Abdollahian was not on the Mahan flight that changed course due to missile strikes on Damascus airport. Reuters reported that the local channel 'Sham FM' stated that Syrian air defenses were activated in response to both attacks. Sham FM reported that Aleppo airport was damaged but no human casualties were reported. Sham FM did not provide any report on the potential effects of the airstrike on Damascus airport. The Israeli army typically does not comment on such incidents and did not issue an immediate statement on Thursday. Two days prior, the Jerusalem Post reported that mortars were fired from Syria into Israel on Tuesday night, and the Israeli army announced it attacked the source of the mortar fire. Informed sources say the attacks on the airports aim to disrupt the Islamic Republic's supply lines to Syria. Tehran's influence has increased since it began supporting Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, in the country's civil war that began in 2011. Israel has been attacking Iranian-related targets in Syria for years, including the airports in Aleppo and Damascus. Israel is particularly concerned about the transfer of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah and other militant groups. The U.S. Secretary of State has arrived in Israel. UN experts condemned the 'horrific crimes of Hamas' and described Israel's response as 'collective punishment.' CNN reported that Hamas's military weapons have come from Iran. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom stated that the Hamas attack was the largest one-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.