Damascus Revives Civil Aviation with New Flights to Gulf Nations
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Damascus, Jan 7 (NationPress) Damascus International Airport has recommenced its international flight operations on Tuesday, with flights directed towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. This move comes as the interim administration in Syria aims to enhance its relations with Gulf countries.
The inaugural flight took off on Tuesday morning, heading to Sharjah, UAE, while another aircraft made its arrival from Doha, marking the first civilian flight from Qatar in 13 years, according to airport officials.
The revival of air travel follows the downfall of the previous regime in December and indicates a potential thaw in relations between Syria's new government and its Gulf neighbors.
Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani recently engaged in discussions in Doha with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, ending years of diplomatic stagnation between the two countries.
The Doha talks concentrated on Syria's reconstruction and transition, with both parties expressing a desire for economic and diplomatic collaboration, according to reports from officials familiar with the discussions, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Al-Shibani also paid a visit to the UAE on Monday as part of a wider tour of Gulf nations aimed at establishing connections with the newly formed Syrian leadership.
In a related development, Jordan's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Yousef Ahmed Al-Hunaiti reassured the readiness of the Jordanian Armed Forces to support Syria's national security during discussions in Amman on Tuesday with Syria's interim defense minister, as reported by the state-run Petra news agency.
Al-Hunaiti met with Murhaf Abu Qasra, who took up the position of interim defense minister in Syria's new administration last month following the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The two discussed military and security collaboration, with Al-Hunaiti emphasizing Jordan's commitment to leveraging all available resources to enhance regional stability and fortify the national security of both nations.
The discussions also aimed at improving bilateral relations and addressing common challenges, particularly along their shared border.
Abu Qasra underscored the profound historical connections between Jordan and Syria, reaffirming his country's commitment to close cooperation. He lauded Jordan's crucial role in fostering regional security and stability.
