MOSCOW: Syria`s ally Russia on Monday condemned Israeli air strikes on Damascus international airport, describing them as provocative and dangerous.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday`s strikes could aggravate tensions in the region, already inflamed by the Gaza crisis.

`We strongly condemn Israel`s latest provocative attack on an important Syrian civilian infrastructure facility,` Zakharova said in a statement.

`We are convinced that such a vicious practice is fraught with extremely dangerous consequences, especially in the context of a sharp aggravation of the situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the resulting increase in regional tension.

Relations between Russia and Israel have deteriorated since the start of the Gaza unrest as Moscow has repeatedly highlighted the suffering of Palestinian civilians under siege by Israel, as well as hosting a delegation of senior Hamas officials.-Reuters