For the third time in a week, the Israeli army has attacked a Syrian airport.

This is a sign of Israel's increasingly offensive approach and a further step in the escalation of the conflict between Israel on the one hand and Iran and its regional proxy forces on the other.

Christian Meier

Political correspondent for the Middle East and Northeast Africa.

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According to Syrian media reports, at least three rockets hit the airport in the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday evening.

The Defense Ministry said the attack came from the Mediterranean Sea west of the city of Latakia.

Israeli warplanes fired missiles that damaged the runway.

Flights would be diverted to Damascus airport.

No information was given about victims.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based pro-opposition organization, reported that warehouses used by Iran-affiliated militias were also hit.

Iran increasingly uses air routes

There had already been attacks on the airports in Aleppo and Damascus on Wednesday evening last week.

They, too, were connected to Iranian activities and in particular to a shift in the supply routes used by the regime in Tehran to supply armed forces in Syria and Lebanon.

According to various media reports, there was initially an attack on Aleppo airport to prevent an Iranian transport plane from landing.

The plane landed, but took off again shortly afterwards and flew towards Damascus.

This was followed by an attack on the airport there.

Aleppo airport remained closed for several days, satellite images showed a hole in the runway.

According to Syrian sources, navigation systems were also damaged in both airports.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad lodged a complaint with the United Nations Security Council.

"Israel is playing with fire," he said, adding that the country risks regional escalation.

As usual, Israel did not confirm the attacks.

For years, the Israeli army has repeatedly attacked positions of forces loyal to Iran and land convoys that supply these forces with weapons and military technology.

Iran is apparently increasingly switching to the air route.

In June, there was already an Israeli attack on Damascus airport, which then ceased operations for two weeks.

Nevertheless, the rapid succession of several such attacks is unusual.

In the Israeli media one can read the assessment that the attacks are a warning to Iran that Israel will not tolerate arms deliveries via the airports.