'Unacceptable': Russia slams Israeli attack on Syrian airport, runways unusable

Israel has staged 100s of strikes on Syrian targets but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations. Russia, a close ally of Syria’s Bashar Assad, has forces based and operating in Syria. Israeli authorities say the nation targets bases of pro-Iran militias, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah terror group. Russia's 2015 military offensive helped turn the tide in a civil war in favour of Syrian president Assad. Israeli military says interventions are key to prevent arch foe Iran from gaining a foothold on its doorstep.