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
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Tuesday that 25 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours under its coordination and security protection.
In a statement published by the IRGC's official news outlet, Sepah News, the IRGC Navy said the vessels, including oil tankers, container ships and other commercial vessels, safely transited the strategic waterway after obtaining authorization.
The statement added that the IRGC Navy is "firmly carrying out intelligent control" over the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any "act of aggression" would be met with a "strong and crushing response."
On the same day, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the U.S. Navy is quietly assisting commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S.-Iran negotiations remain uncertain, citing U.S. military officials.
A Greek supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil was guided by the U.S. Navy as it crossed the strategic waterway off the Omani coast, according to the WSJ report.
It added that the tanker had been stranded in the Persian Gulf since early March and is now heading to India to deliver its cargo.
The U.S. Navy plans to assist about a dozen vessels, including supertankers and container ships, in transiting the waterway over the coming days, according to the report.
The newspaper later clarified that the U.S. Navy's coordination with commercial ships did not represent a resumption of Project Freedom, a military escort operation announced by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month and paused within 48 hours.
A spokesman for the U.S. Central Command confirmed that Washington was not resuming Project Freedom.
Iran tightened its grip on the strait beginning Feb 28, when it barred safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The United States has also imposed a naval blockade on the strait, preventing ships traveling to and from Iranian ports from transiting the waterway.
25 vessels transit Strait of Hormuz in past 24 hours: Iran's IRGC
