Russia expresses 'serious concern' over Israel air strikes on Syria airport

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov summoned the Israeli Ambassador in Moscow Alexander Ben Zvi to express his country’s “serious concern” about the Israeli air strikes on Syria’s Damascus International Airport.

“The [Israeli] ambassador was told that the justification received from the Israeli side regarding the strike … was unconvincing and that Moscow expected additional clarification,” according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement that was quoted by Reuters.

Bogdanov, who also serves as Presidential Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, said that the air strikes, which Israel launched against Damascus airport on 10 June, “damaged the runway, navigation equipment and buildings, and disrupted international civilian air traffic,” the statement added.

These damages, the Russian official added, resulted in a delay in the United Nations’ delivery of humanitarian aid to millions of Syrian civilians.

READ: Israel bombs Damascus Airport to stop Iran from smuggling weapons to Hezbollah