Damascus
Recent reports indicate that Israel conducted early morning airstrikes on both Damascus and Aleppo airports, with a military source attributing the attacks to Israel and citing their simultaneous execution from locations including the Mediterranean Sea, west of Latakia, and the occupied Syrian Golan. Tragically, a worker lost their life at Damascus airport, while another sustained injuries. The airstrikes caused significant damage to the runways at both airports, necessitating their temporary closure and the redirection of air traffic to Latakia.
In response to the escalating tensions, Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the Israel Defense Forces have announced the expansion of a state-funded evacuation plan for communities in close proximity to the Lebanon border. Fourteen additional communities, including Snir, Dan, Beit Hillel, She’ar Yashuv, Hagoshrim, Liman, Matzuva, Eylon, Goren, Gornot HaGalil, Even Menachem, Sasa, Tziv’on, and Ramot Naftali, are now included in the expanded evacuation plan.
Furthermore, an evacuation initiative has been initiated for 28 communities located within 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) of the Lebanese border, reflecting the seriousness of the security situation. As of the latest update on Friday, the number of civilians evacuated from their homes in northern and southern Israel had risen to approximately 123,000, underscoring the urgency and scale of the response to the heightened tensions in the region.
The situation remains volatile, with the Israeli government and defense forces taking measures to ensure the safety and security of civilians in vulnerable areas. Efforts to de-escalate tensions and restore stability are of paramount importance to prevent further human casualties and the exacerbation of the crisis.
