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Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority has taken over Qamishli International Airport in the northeast, opening the way for civilian flights to return after a 15-year break, it announced Saturday.
The takeover is part of an agreement signed on Jan. 30 between Damascus and the terrorist group SDF, covering the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli and outlining plans to integrate administrative and military structures.
Qamishli International Airport is the only airport serving northeastern Syria, making it central to transportation and logistics in the region.
According to the report, the airport’s transfer came after Syria’s Interior Ministry representatives met with SDF ringleaders on Feb. 8 to coordinate the handover.
Officials from multiple departments visited the airport to assess its technical condition and administrative structure. They discussed procedures needed to restart flights in line with international aviation safety and operational standards.
Authority chief Omar al-Hosari described the transfer as "important within the path of unifying airport management under the umbrella of the state and ensuring operations according to the highest standards of safety and international efficiency."
Qamishli airport played a key role during Syria’s conflict, which began in 2011 and lasted nearly 14 years. It once ran regular flights between northeastern Syria and Damascus, acting as a vital transport link for residents during wartime.
Russian forces set up a military presence at the airport in November 2019 to oversee cease-fire arrangements after clashes involving terrorist groups. That presence ended last month when Russian troops pulled out.
The latest transfer puts the airport fully under state control for the first time in years, as Syrian authorities move to take back transport infrastructure from areas previously run by terrorist groups.
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