Damascus International Airport in Syria has halted all flights. Reuters
Damascus International Airport in Syria has halted all flights. Reuters
Damascus International Airport in Syria has halted all flights. Reuters
Damascus International Airport in Syria has halted all flights. Reuters

Damascus International Airport halts all flights


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Damascus International Airport halted all flights on Friday because of technical issues, the Syrian state news agency, Sana, reported.

All incoming and outgoing flights have been suspended until the problems are resolved, the transport ministry said.

The ministry said that dates for the resumption of operations will be announced "as soon as the equipment is repaired to ensure the safety and security of operational movement".

Cham Wings Airline, a private Syrian company, said it was rerouting all its flights to Aleppo International Airport.

The moves comes after an Israeli air strike damaged the runway, according to sources who spoke to AFP.

Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria May 10, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

An airport employee told the agency that the dawn strikes by Israel had affected the facility.

"We had to postpone all flights for at least 48 hours and some flights have been rerouted through Aleppo airport," the airport employee said.

The Israeli strikes targeted southern Damascus, according to Syrian state media, which said missiles were fired from the occupied Golan Heights at about 4.20am.

Syrian air defences intercepted most of the missiles, but those that reached their target injured at least one civilian and caused material damage, Sana said.

The transport ministry's statement, however, did not refer to the Israeli attack.

The Israeli bombings damaged the runway of the airport after targeting "warehouses of Iranian militias" near the airport, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.

The UK-based war monitor, which relies on a wide network of sources in Syria, said that at least three such positions were hit, leaving several people injured.

It is not unusual for Israel to attack targets in Syria that it believes are linked to Iran, where Tehran-backed militias, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, are stationed to help Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

AFP contributed to this report

Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

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Updated: June 10, 2022, 11:32 AM