Mezzeh Air Base
On December 8, 2024, shortly after Damascus fell, Israel bombed it, possibly to prevent strategic weapons falling into hands of the Syrian rebels.
History
During World War II the Mazzeh airfield was a military base for the Vichy French air force, which also permitted Germany to use its bases. On 19 May 1941, British aircraft attacked the airfield, destroying some modern Potez 63 aircraft as well some older Potez 25 biplanes.
After Syrian independence in 1946, Mazzeh became a base for the Syrian Air Force. "By the end of 1957 the SAF had two operational MiG-17 squadrons defending the capital from their base at al-Mezze near Damascus." In 1966 it became also the Defense Companies headquarters.
The airbase was subject to an attack that was blamed on Israel by Syrian authorities on January 13, 2017. As of 2024, before destruction, satellite imagery showed the runway 06/24 to be 2.80 km.
See also
References
- ^ globalsecurity.org Syrian Airfields
- ^ BBC, 17 June 2013, Syria blast at Mezzeh military airport in Damascus
- ^ Reuters, 16 June 2013, Explosion hits military airport in Damascus: activists
- ^ "France issues arrest warrants for three Syrian security officials over prison torture". France 24. France 24. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- ^ "Multiple Israeli strikes reported on airbases in southern Syria". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ Brian Cull, David Nicolle, Shlomo Aloni (1996), Wings over Suez, Grub Street, p359
- ^ "Syrian army says Israel fires rockets at military airport near Damascus". telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2017.