Russia Reveals Details About Israeli Raids Near Damascus Airport

Damascus Airport (Ashrq Al-Awsat)
Damascus Airport (Ashrq Al-Awsat)
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Russia Reveals Details About Israeli Raids Near Damascus Airport

Damascus Airport (Ashrq Al-Awsat)
Damascus Airport (Ashrq Al-Awsat)

Israel raided Damascus International Airport as the Syrian defenses downed seven of the eight missiles that were fired, according to the Russian Center for Reconciliation.

Deputy Head of the Center Rear Admiral Vadim Kolet said that four Israeli F-16 jets fired in December eight missiles from Golan airspace targeting the Damascus airport area.

Kolet said the Syrian air defenses shot seven of the missiles using Russian-made Pantsir-S systems. He confirmed that the Israeli airstrike caused damages to a warehouse and killed one person.

Also, a Syrian soldier was killed in an airstrike on Thursday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

The agency quoted an unnamed military source saying that the Israeli enemy attacked the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting some points in the southern region, indicating that the air defenses shot down most of the missiles.

The Israeli army refused to comment on the news.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) indicated that Israel recently intensified its strikes in Syria. An attack on November 24 killed five people.

Meanwhile, the UK's Defense Ministry said that British fighter jets shot down a drone approaching al-Tanf base in Syria.

It is the first time the British army had shot down another enemy aircraft since the Falklands War nearly 40 years ago.

The Ministry of Defense said that the drone, which was downed on December 14, posed a threat to the coalition against ISIS in southern Syria.

The UK's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said: "This strike is an impressive demonstration of the RAF's ability to take out hostile targets in the air that pose a threat to our forces."

"We continue to do everything we can alongside our coalition partners to stamp out the terrorist threat and protect our personnel and our partners."

Two RAF Typhoon FGR4s were patrolling over Syria and Iraq on Tuesday as part of the global coalition against ISIS and were ordered to investigate hostile drone activity near the al-Tanf military base.

The pilots identified a small hostile drone and shot it down using an advanced short-range air-to-air missile.

It was the first operational air-to-air engagement conducted by an RAF Typhoon and the first air-to-air missile firing during Operation Shader, targeting the remnants of ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

A spokesman for US Central Command, US Navy Capt Bill Urban, said two drones entered the al-Tanf garrison "deconfliction" zone on Tuesday. One of them was shot down as it moved closer to the base.

He indicated that there were no casualties or damage to facilities.



Hamas Mourns Iran’s Khamenei, Condemns ‘Heinous’ US-Israel Attack

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
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Hamas Mourns Iran’s Khamenei, Condemns ‘Heinous’ US-Israel Attack

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)
In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, third right, leads a prayer over the coffins of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguard who were killed in an assassination blamed on Israel on Wednesday, during their funeral ceremony at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP, File)

Hamas on Sunday mourned Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei after his death in what it described as a "heinous" US-Israeli attack.

"We in Hamas mourn the passing of Ali Khamenei. He provided all forms of political, diplomatic and military support to our people, our cause, and our resistance," the Palestinian movement said in a statement.

"The US and the fascist occupation government bear full responsibility for this blatant aggression and heinous crime against the sovereignty of Iran, as well as for its serious repercussions on the security and stability of the region."


Thai PM Says Preparing Evacuation of Citizens in Middle East

A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Thai PM Says Preparing Evacuation of Citizens in Middle East

A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
A projectile lights up the night sky over Tel Aviv, Israel, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Thailand is readying to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East by military or charter flights, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Sunday, after the US and Israel attacked Iran -- which answered with its own missile strikes.

The government has "coordinated with the Royal Thai Air Force to prepare aircraft to evacuate Thai citizens, prioritizing those in Iran", Anutin told reporters in Bangkok, adding that charter flights were also under consideration.

"We have to check the closure of airspace, whether we need to evacuate them to the third country first," he added.

Anutin said there were tens of thousands of Thai workers in the region, citing the labor ministry.

Nearly 59,000 Thais were registered with Thailand's labor office in Israel, and more than 11,000 were registered with Thailand's labor office in Abu Dhabi -- which covers the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Iran, according to the ministry.

"The Thai government will do everything to bring Thai citizens back safely. If they want to return, we will take them back," Anutin said.

The United States and Israel began launching waves of strikes against Iran on Saturday, sparking swift retaliation by Tehran.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to continue striking Iran until its government falls.

Iranian state television confirmed the death of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday, after Trump said he had been killed.

Fresh explosions were heard in Doha, Dubai and Manama on Sunday.

Amid the bombardments, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE and Israel all have closed their airspaces to civilian traffic, at least in part, and multiple airlines cancelled flights to and from the region.


Iraq’s Sistani Urges Iranian Unity After Khamenei Death

A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)
A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)
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Iraq’s Sistani Urges Iranian Unity After Khamenei Death

A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)
A person washes his face with a soft drink bottle after riot police deployed irritants to disperse protesters supporting Iraqi Shiite armed groups gathered near the entrance of the Green Zone and attempted to move toward the US embassy after the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 1, 2026. (Reuters)

Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric on Sunday urged Iranians to remain united as Iraqis mourned supreme leader Ali Khamenei following his death in US and Israeli strikes. 

Baghdad announced a three-day mourning period for Khamenei, who had been Iran's hardline spiritual guide and top political authority since 1989. 

"With deep sorrow, I extend my condolences to the noble Iranian people and all Muslims on the martyrdom" of Khamenei, whose "unique role in leading the Islamic Republic of Iran for many years is evident to all", said Ali Sistani, himself born in Iran. 

"Through his martyrdom and the large-scale military assault on Iran, the enemies sought to inflict immense damage on this beloved country. 

"The great Iranian people are expected to maintain their unity, to stand firm and thwart the aggressors' sinister goals," Sistani added in a statement. 

Khamenei's death was met with anger in Baghdad, where hundreds of protesters have tried since the early hours of Sunday to storm the fortified Green Zone where the US embassy is located. 

Iran wields significant influence in Iraqi politics, and also backs armed groups whose power has grown both politically and financially. 

Iraq has for decades been a proxy battleground between the US and Iran. 

Government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement that "with deep sorrow, we extend our condolences to the noble people of Iran and the entire Muslim world" after "a blatant act of aggression" that killed Khamenei. 

He said the government had announced three days of mourning, while urging an immediate cessation of military operations that "are driving the region to unprecedented levels of violence". 

The Coordination Framework, a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying degrees of links to Iran, said "with deep sorrow and profound grief, we mourn the passing of the martyred leader, Ali Khamenei". 

His "blood will remain a guiding light for all generations" and "the curse will continue to haunt the murderous Zionists for all time", the coalition added. 

Influential cleric Moqtada Sadr meanwhile said in a statement that "we extend our condolences to the Islamic world", and also declared a three-day period of mourning.