Missile Attack on Damascus Airport

Syrian state media reports that Israel has launched a missile attack on Damascus International Airport. Israel has not responded to these reports. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights states that a 'munitions depot belonging to Iranian forces or Hezbollah' was targeted. The state news agency of Syria, citing an unnamed military official, claims that the country's air defense intercepted 'Israeli missiles' on the night of September 15, and 'some were shot down.' The news agency reported that 'no casualties or damages have been reported.' International media, including the German news agency, quoted citizens in the Syrian capital who reported hearing explosions near the airport. Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights based in London, told the Associated Press that the attack targeted a munitions depot near Damascus International Airport. Abdulrahman stated that new military weapons had recently been transferred to this depot for Hezbollah or Iranian forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has not yet reported any potential human casualties from this attack but indicated that material damage has occurred. Iranian officials have not yet responded to these reports, but the Tasnim news agency, which is said to be affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, reported that Israel 'fired four missiles at Damascus International Airport, two of which hit the airport and two were destroyed by Syrian army air defense.' The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted an army official stating that Israel does not respond to foreign reports. This comment implies that the Israeli army has not directly claimed responsibility for the attack. The country rarely acknowledges its attacks in Syria; however, an official army representative stated on September 4 that they had attacked targets, mostly belonging to the Islamic Republic of Iran in Syria, over 200 times in the past 18 months. An Israeli official confirmed the execution of 200 military attacks on targets in Syrian territory. The American newspaper Foreign Policy discussed in reports last week what it described as 'Israel's expanding covert war against Iran,' mentioning Israel's active participation in military operations in Syria. Israeli government officials have repeatedly emphasized their unwillingness to accept Iran's presence and the expansion of the Islamic Republic's influence at their borders and will confront it.