Israel once again launched a series of airstrikes targeting Syria’s capital Damascus in the early hours of 2 January, killing two Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers and inflicting material damages near Damascus International Airport, a military source told media.

The Israeli missiles were launched from the direction of Lake Tiberias, the source said, and were mostly intercepted by Syrian air defenses.

The source added that in addition to the death of two soldiers, several others were also injured, with the airstrikes causing a temporary shutdown of the airport’s operations.

Since 2017, Israel has been launching attacks against alleged Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Syria. Recently, however, it has intensified attacks on Syria’s major airports in a bid to halt Tehran’s increasing use of aerial supply lines to deliver arms to its allies in Syria, Lebanon, and the occupied Palestinian territories, regional diplomatic and intelligence sources say.

The strikes are carried out in major violation of international law and take place on an almost weekly basis, the last being 19 December, injuring two Syrian soldiers.

In September, five Syrian service members were killed in an Israeli missile attack near Damascus airport, the second on the facility within a month. Earlier in September, Israeli strikes left Aleppo International Airport out of service. The airport attacks also prevented much needed humanitarian aid from reaching the country.

As a result of Israel’s incessant strikes on Damascus, 47 Syrian servicemen were killed in 2022.

Syria has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions, and – to no avail – has called on the UN several times to investigate the illegal bombardment.

“Our position concerning such attacks is fairly clear. We warn [Israel] that an adequate response to such hostilities awaits them, and it will be given sooner or later,” Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad vowed recently.