Syria extends Damascus airport closure amid Israel-Iran tensions

Syria's General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport announced on Sunday that operations at Damascus International Airport would remain suspended until 11 p.m. local time on Monday, extending previous restrictions amid heightened regional hostilities. "The extension came in light of continued monitoring and assessment of regional developments," the authority said, noting that the risk management committee aimed to ensure aviation safety met international standards.

The closure affects all flights through the capital's main air hub, with the suspension initially imposed as tensions spiked across the region. Officials emphasized that the extension reflects ongoing security assessments rather than an immediate threat to the facility itself.

Rerouting to Northern Syria

Syrian Airlines said it has diverted incoming and outgoing services to Aleppo airport in northern Syria to maintain limited connectivity during the restriction period. The carrier confirmed that the Damascus-Dubai route would operate as Aleppo-Dubai and the Jeddah-Damascus service would run as Jeddah-Aleppo, with both flights scheduled for June 8.

The temporary rerouting aims to protect passengers while keeping essential air links operational, the airline noted in a statement carried by state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariyya.

Regional Escalation

Security conditions deteriorated sharply on Sunday when Israeli warplanes struck targets in Beirut despite a fragile ceasefire, prompting Iran to fire missiles at northern Israel in response. Israel subsequently launched multiple waves of airstrikes against Iranian positions, deepening the cross-border conflict that has destabilized the region since February.

The United States and Israel launched coordinated air operations against Iran in late February, drawing retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory and regional states hosting American military assets. A temporary truce took effect on April 8 but faltered within weeks over implementation disputes, leaving airspace across the Levant hazardous for civilian aviation.