Airport in Syria's Aleppo closed due to rebel attacks

ALEPPO - Agence France-Presse

A general view shows Aleppo's historical citadel controlled by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad December 30, 2012. REUTERS photo

The international airport in Syria's second city of Aleppo has been temporarily closed due to repeated attacks by rebel fighters, an airport official said on Tuesday.
 
"There have been continued attempts by opposition militants to target civilian aircraft, which could cause a humanitarian disaster," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
 
The airport's authorities said the closure was due to maintenance work on the runway and other facilities on the ground.
 
The official said the critical transportation hub would be closed for a "very short period of time" while the army worked to regain control of surrounding areas where large numbers of rebels have set up base.
 
Fighting in Aleppo, located in the largely rebel-held north of Syria, has been at a stalemate for months since opposition fghters launched a massive assault on the former commercial hub in mid-July.