By Michael D. Carroll
Breaking News Editor
The first international commercial flight since the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad landed at Damascus International Airport on Tuesday, arriving from Qatar.
In a related development, Jordan's state-run Petra news agency reported that a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane departed for Damascus on a test flight, signaling a gradual resumption of air traffic and international connectivity for Syria after years of isolation.
Capt. Haitham Misto, head of the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, joined a team of specialists on the Royal Jordanian Airlines test flight to Damascus. Misto stated that the mission's goal was to assess the technical condition of the Damascus airport as a prerequisite for resuming regular flights. This evaluation marks a key step toward reestablishing commercial air connections with Syria.
Since the swift rebel offensive that ousted Bashar al-Assad a month ago, Arab and Western nations that had severed ties with his regime have begun reestablishing diplomatic relations with Syria's new de facto authorities. The leadership of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former insurgent faction, now heads the transitional government, marking a dramatic shift in Syria's political landscape.
Syria's new foreign minister met with Qatar's foreign minister and prime minister in Doha on Sunday, signaling a significant step in rebuilding diplomatic ties between Syria's new leadership and the region. The meeting highlights Qatar's willingness to engage with Syria's transitional government following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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