Syria: Bombing of Abu al-Dhahur Military Airport in Idlib

Syrian media accused Israel of launching eight strikes on the Abu al-Dhaher military airport, located in the northwest of the country and out of service for years, according to official media citing a Syrian military source. The source stated: “The Israeli occupation air force targeted the runway of Abu al-Dhaher military airport in eastern Idlib countryside with eight strikes early today,” adding that “the attack caused material damage to the airport’s infrastructure without any casualties.” The airport, which has been out of service since 2012, hosts protection forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense, according to a security source speaking to Agence France-Presse.

Israeli forces had previously carried out hundreds of strikes in late 2024, following the overthrow of the previous regime, on what they described as military targets in Syria. Meanwhile, coalition aircraft led by the United States have been conducting strikes, often targeting senior figures from the “Daesh” (ISIS) group. Syrian authorities have maintained control over the airport, which suffered severe damage during years of conflict, since coming to power.

In a separate development, the Syrian judiciary issued an in absentia death sentence against Wasim al-Assad, the cousin of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, following similar rulings issued last week against the former president and several security officials from his regime’s inner circle.

Fakhreddine al-Aryan, president of the Fourth Assize Court in Damascus, announced during the sentencing hearing in the case against Wasim al-Assad that he had “convicted” Wasim al-Assad of “the felony of intentional homicide, the felony of intentional homicide of multiple persons, and intentional homicide accompanied by acts of torture and brutality against individuals, classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes,” and ordered “that he be sentenced to death for these offenses.”