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International flights resumed at Syria’s primary airport in Damascus on Tuesday for the very first time considering that Islamist-led forces fell president Bashar al-Assad last month.
There was an air of enjoyment at the terminal, AFP reporters saw, with showing up guests shouting and cheering, some curtained in the nation’s three-star self-reliance flag.
Syrians bring vibrant balloons and flowers welcomed travelers who showed up on the very first Qatari industrial flight in almost 13 years, which landed at around 1:00 pm (10:00 GMT).
A few of the travelers knelt down to kiss the ground.
“I’m waiting for my brother, who I haven’t seen in 17 years. He couldn’t return… because of the regime,” Reem Taghleb, 37, informed AFP.
“He took the first opportunity to return to Syria on the first Qatari plane,” she included, with feeling in her voice.
“We’re so happy for his return, and for our country’s freedom.”
– ‘New starting’ –
A Syrian Airlines airplane bound for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates removed at around 11:45 am, marking the very first global business flight from the airport given that December 8, AFP reporters stated.
The three-star flag, long connected with opposition to Assad and which the brand-new authorities have actually embraced, was painted on the airplane.
“Today marks a new beginning,” Damascus airport director Anis Fallouh informed AFP.
On Tuesday, Qatar Airways resumed flights to Damascus after an almost 13-year hiatus, with 3 weekly flights arranged.
Fallouh validated that “the first incoming flight is a Qatar Airways plane”
International help airplanes and foreign diplomatic delegations had actually currently been landing in Syria, and domestic flights had actually likewise resumed.
“I was afraid that the airport would stay closed. My visa was about to expire, but now I am very happy,” Amal Jeroudi, a 45-year-old Syrian, informed AFP as she awaited her flight to Dubai where she was satisfying her family members.
She stated airport staff members throughout Assad’s guideline “were condescending, but today they are very nice and welcomed us with a smile”
– ‘Support and uniformity’ –
State news firm SANA reported that “the first Syrian plane after liberation” removed for Sharjah with “145 Syrian passengers onboard”
Ashhad al-Salibi, who heads the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, informed press reporters that a Sham Wings flight was because of fly to Arbil in Iraq later on in the day.
Jordan’s state-run Petra news firm, pointing out Civil Aviation authorities Haitham Misto, stated a Royal Jordanian test flight had actually likewise left on Tuesday for Damascus.
The flight is “a message of support and solidarity” that likewise “aims to assess the technical condition of Damascus International Airport”Misto stated.
A Qatari authorities informed AFP last month that Doha had actually used the brand-new Syrian authorities assist in resuming operations at Damascus airport.
On December 18, the very first flight because Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad 10 days previously removed from Damascus airport bound for Syria’s 2nd city Aleppo in the north, according to AFP reporters.
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