In eleven years of war, the international airport of Damascus had never ceased to operate. On Friday June 10, air traffic was suspended indefinitely after strikes that caused extensive damage to the country’s main airport hub. Syrian authorities blamed the attack on Israel. The Jewish state has multiplied, in recent months, the strikes in the perimeter of the airport, on the grounds that Iran uses it to transfer weapons to the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.
Airstrips, navigation lights and a passenger terminal were damaged, said Transport Minister Zouheir Khouzeim. Despite assurances given by the Syrian official as to the imminent reopening of the airport, experts believe that the work could take several weeks.
“Severe negative consequences”
“It is a strong act, although it will not have a huge financial and commercial impact. The activity of Damascus airport has been very reduced since the start of the war in Syria. Few companies connect with Syria, but Damascus remains an important point of arrival for Syrian travelers coming from the Gulf or Turkey”estimates Jihad Yazigi, the director of the economic letter Syria Report.
The airport is mainly used by Syrian companies, the national company Syrian Airlines and the private company Cham Wings. Syrian Airlines promised reimbursement for canceled flights, while Cham Wings said it was rerouting its flights to Aleppo airport in the northwest of the country and providing free transport to the Syrian capital.
In addition to these companies, only a few international companies, notably Iraqi (Fly Baghdad, UR Airlines), Iranian (Mahan Air) or even Pakistani (Pakistan International Airlines), ensured regular connections with Damascus. The closure of the airport could have an impact on the arrival of Shia pilgrims from the Middle East, as well as on the movement of Syrian businessmen and expatriates inside the country and in the region.
“Targeting civilian infrastructure is against international and humanitarian law” Imran Riza, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria
She also has “severe negative consequences” on the provision of humanitarian aid, the United Nations said in a statement on Monday. “Targeting civilian infrastructure is contrary to international and humanitarian law”condemned Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria. All UN humanitarian flights had to be suspended. Since the beginning of the year, these flights have allowed the transport of more than 2,000 humanitarian workers between Damascus, Aleppo and Qamichli, which coordinate the assistance brought to more than two million Syrians in the north and east of the country, as well as the delivery of medical supplies.
You have 38.18% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.