Damascus, Syria – A Qatar Airways flight touched down at Damascus International Airport on Tuesday, marking the first international commercial flight since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The arrival was met by cheering relatives and friends of passengers, many of whom were Syrian nationals returning home after over a decade. A significant number of returnees were visiting Syria for the first time since the 2011 civil war.
The airport, previously damaged by years of neglect and Israeli airstrikes, has received assistance from Qatar in its rehabilitation. Ashad al-Suleibi, head of Syria's Air Transport Authority, acknowledged the significant damage inflicted during the Assad regime's tenure.
Meanwhile, a Royal Jordanian Airlines flight conducted a test flight to Damascus, assessing the airport's technical readiness for resuming regular services. Captain Haitham Misto, head of Jordan's Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, led the inspection team aboard the flight.
Normalization efforts are accelerating. Following the recent rebel offensive that toppled Assad, Arab and Western countries have been re-establishing diplomatic ties with Syria's new authorities, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) insurgent group. Syria's new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, has visited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in recent days, likely seeking crucial financial assistance for reconstruction efforts.
Diplomatic engagement extends to Jordan, where al-Shibani met with his Jordanian counterpart. Discussions focused on bolstering cooperation across various sectors, including borders, security, energy, transportation, water, trade, and other crucial areas. This is significant given Jordan's past role as a conduit for smuggling Captagon amphetamines.
Syria's new authorities are actively combating the Captagon trade, dismantling production facilities. This action has been highlighted as crucial for regional security. Al-Shibani and Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi emphasized this commitment, with assurances that such activities have ended. Jordan expressed its readiness to help with providing crucial necessities such as electricity and gas.
Despite recent developments, Syria continues to face significant challenges. Facing stringent Western sanctions, the country confronts an ongoing economic crisis, with limited access to electricity. The return of commercial flights signifies a step toward recovery, though enduring obstacles remain.
