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The Syrian government on Sunday strongly condemned the establishment of a so-called “General Directorate” by the PKK/YPG terrorist organization to oversee operations at Qamishli Airport in northeastern Syria, declaring any such move as a blatant violation of international aviation law and a direct threat to Syrian sovereignty.
In an official statement, the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority emphasized that only the legitimate government in Damascus is authorized to manage the country’s airspace and all of its civilian and military airports.
“The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority is the sole legal entity responsible for managing, operating, and issuing aviation notifications for all air traffic within Syrian territory,” the statement read.
“Any unauthorized attempt to control Qamishli Airport is illegal and will be treated as an infringement of national sovereignty.”
Qamishli Airport, located in Hasakeh province near the Turkish border, is currently closed to all forms of air traffic.
The terrorist YPG/PKK’s announcement of forming a so-called airport administration was met with fierce rejection by Damascus, which reiterated that no group—particularly internationally recognized terrorist organizations—has the right to make decisions over sovereign infrastructure.
“Any step taken by the PKK/YPG and its fabricated ‘administration’ is not only unlawful but represents a hostile and separatist agenda targeting Syria’s unity,” the statement said.
Russian forces had previously operated from Qamishli Airport until December 2024. However, after partially withdrawing to the Hmeimim Airbase in Latakia, the YPG/PKK terrorist group occupied the airport, capitalizing on reduced regime and Russian presence.
Since then, the group has intensified its efforts to establish parallel institutions in the areas it unlawfully occupies in northeastern Syria.
Yesterday, the so-called “Autonomous Administration”—a structure widely viewed as a political cover for the PKK/YPG—declared the formation of a “General Directorate” for Qamishli Airport, prompting immediate condemnation from Damascus.
The Civil Aviation Authority warned that any flights coordinated through unauthorized entities, especially terrorist organizations, would endanger regional air safety and violate the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
“All international aviation partners are urged to refrain from cooperating with illegitimate and terrorist-linked entities,” the authority said.
“Syria will not tolerate any attempt to legitimize the control of terrorist groups over national infrastructure.”
The YPG/PKK is internationally recognized by Türkiye and other nations as the Syrian branch of the PKK, a designated terrorist organization responsible for decades of attacks on civilians and security forces.
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