A view of Aleppo International Airport in Syria on 7 February 2023. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday condemned the Israeli warplane strikes against Syria's Aleppo airport, which caused extensive damage and halted flights to and from Syria's second city.
In a statement, the Ministry denounced the “persistent Israeli violation of international law ... through its attack on Aleppo's International Airport."
According to the statement, Syria "is still receiving international humanitarian aid to soothe the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria, which reveals — once again — the aggressive nature of the policies of Israel in the region.”
Aleppo's airport has been a major conduit for inbound aid since Feb. 6, when a massive earthquake devastated swathes of southeastern Turkey and neighboring Syria. Flights in and out of Aleppo were brought to a stop after the Israeli strike, a transport ministry official said, according to AFP.
Israel has attacked Aleppo airport several times in recent years. A strike last September put it out of service for a few days.
Since civil war erupted in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes against its neighbor, primarily targeting Syrian Army sites and those strategic to Iran and Hezbollah.
Lebanon regularly condemns Israeli strikes against Syria. An official Lebanese delegation visited Damascus in the days following the quake and humanitarian aid was sent to Syria via Lebanon.