Flight operations resumed at the Damascus International Airport in Syria's capital on Wednesday, following the recent fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's administration earlier this month.
A Syrian Airlines plane carrying passengers from Damascus landed in Aleppo of northern Syria, marking the first flight between the two cities days after the airport ceased flights.
"Today we are starting with an internal flight. Preparations at the Damascus airport are in full swing, including departments like immigration and civil aviation, to welcome Syrians living abroad who have fled the country, stayed displaced and want to return," said Saad Kheri Beik, operation manager of the Damascus International Airport, told reporters at the airport Wednesday.
Among the changes at the airport is the display of the Syrian flag, which has been switched from the previous two-star flag to a new one featuring three stars.
Currently there are still no international flights scheduled at the airport, given the uncertain security conditions across Syria.
Syria's border crossings remain closed as the newly-formed transitional government is trying to roll out new measures for the entry of both Syrians and foreigners.
A militant alliance led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group waged a major offensive from northern Syria on Nov 27 and had since swept southwards through areas held by al-Assad's government. Following territorial gains, including the capture of the capital Damascus, the alliance declared the end of al-Assad's rule on Dec 8.
Damascus International Airport reopens for domestic flights after Assad's fall
Damascus International Airport reopens for domestic flights after Assad's fall
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
