Key facts
- Syria's Damascus and Aleppo international airports are now open for nighttime flights.
- Israel lifted its block on the activation of essential navigation equipment at the airports.
- The equipment, including ILS/DME and DVOR/DME, enables aircraft to land at night and in reduced visibility.
- Israel had previously threatened to shoot down aircraft conducting calibration flights for the navigation systems.
- A solution was reached by reducing the required calibration flight radius from 50km to 25km.
- Israel had also previously opposed the deployment of an advanced radar system at Damascus International Airport.
Syria's Damascus and Aleppo international airports are now operational for nighttime flights following Israel's quiet lifting of its blockade on essential navigation equipment. Regional officials informed Middle East Eye that the Syrian General Authority for Civil Aviation and Transport had completed the installation of systems like ILS/DME and DVOR/DME, which are crucial for night landings and operations in poor visibility.
However, the activation of this equipment required calibration flights within a 50km radius of Damascus airport. According to senior regional officials, the Israeli government had previously threatened to intercept these calibration flights, effectively preventing the activation of the navigation systems for over six months. The proximity of Israeli forces to Damascus, following their occupation of Mount Hermon, brought them within 25-40km of the capital, a change from pre-2024 border positions.
A resolution was facilitated when technicians determined that calibration could be achieved within a 25km radius. Syrian authorities informed Israel of their intention to conduct these tests, and the lack of a response from the Israeli government is seen as an implicit agreement to lift the blockade. Earlier this year, Israel had also expressed opposition to the deployment of a Turkish-made radar system at Damascus International Airport, citing concerns about its impact on Israel's freedom of action in Syrian airspace.
Regional diplomats suggest that Israel's decision to ease these restrictions may be linked to efforts to de-escalate tensions following a recent strike on a Syrian airbase that concerned US officials. US envoy Tom Barrack has been working to establish a trilateral deconfliction mechanism, and Israel has appointed a charge d’affaires to its embassy in Ankara to improve engagement with Turkish counterparts.