DAMASCUS (Arrahmah.com) – Syrian mujahideen who fighting against Bashar Assad’s regime set their sights Friday on the capital’s international airport in a bid to cut off the regime’s supplies, clashing with government troops nearby and again forcing the closure of the airport road.
A mujahid who is part of the push against Damascus International Airport declared it a legitimate target, claiming that the regime has stationed troops and elite forces there as well as military planes that transport ammunition.
Therefore losing control of the airport would be a major blow to the regime, which has recently lost two air bases near the capital.
It was unclear just how close to the airport, a few kilometers (miles) south of the capital, the battles reached.
Fighting has intensified in the past week in the southern districts of the Syrian capital and its suburbs.
Mujahideen said they were targeting the airport in an effort to cut military supplies to the government.
“This would send a very strong political message to the regime. It will be a moral victory, to say the least,” said the fighter, who gave only his first name, Nour, for security reasons. “The battle to cut off the regime supplies from the airport has started.”
Another mujahid, speaking on condition of anonymity for the same reason, said the airport is now considered a “military zone.” So they called civilians to stay away from the airport and its around.
“We urge civilians to stay away,” said the fighter, a member of the Damascus area military command. (siraaj/alarabiya/arrahmah.com)
