Qatar Airways made the first international commercial flight to Damascus since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. View on euronews

The national airline of Qatar has announced that it will resume weekly flights to Syria 13 years after cancelling operations. Qatar Airways will offer three weekly flights between Qatar and Damascus, Syria, from Tuesday (7 January). In 2011, flights by the carrier to and from Damascus and Aleppo were cancelled amid Syria’s civil war.

The first international commercial flight since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad has landed at the Damascus airport arriving from Qatar.

The country’s new leaders are pushing to restore a sense of normalcy. But Syria remains under a host of international sanctions imposed during the Assad regime.

Qatar Airways announced on Thursday it will resume flights to the Syrian capital Damascus from next week. "Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the resumption of three weekly flights to Damascus, Syria, from 7 January 2025," the national flag carrier said in a statement.

Qatar Airways announced on Thursday it will resume flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after nearly 13 years, starting with three weekly flights beginning on Tuesday.

A Qatar Airways plane became the first to land at Damascus airport since the ousting of the government of former President Bashar al-Assad last month, as Syria’s interim leaders hope to reassert a semblance of normalcy in the country.

Crowds of people were gathered to greet those arriving at Damascus airport, with several Syrians returning for the first time in years.