Syria restores commercial flights with Venezuela for first time since 2011

ByNews Desk- The Cradle 

Earlier this year, the Venezuelan president announced plans to visit Syria 'soon'

On 31 May, the first direct flight from Venezuela’s Simon Bolivar International Airport landed at Damascus International Airport following an almost 12-year-long standstill due to the western-backed war in Syria.

The flight reportedly carried 102 passengers, including the Venezuelan minister of transport, the Venezuelan deputy foreign minister, and an accompanying delegation.

Ambassador Khalil Bitar, Director of the Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, said in a press statement at Damascus airport: “It is scheduled that there will be a flight every 15 days between Damascus and Caracas.”

In January, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced his plans to visit Syria “soon” while calling on the international community to respect Syria’s right to reconstruction and prosperity and emphasizing that the Levantine nation is the cradle of several cultures.

Maduro also proposed holding an economic and investment exhibition in Damascus with the participation of Venezuelan businessmen and the Syrian community in Venezuela to assist in reconstructing the war-torn country.

Maduro commended President Bashar al-Assad for his “heroic stance in leading a historic battle against the US terrorist aggression and its accomplices in the world, and for achieving victory thanks to the help of his allies Russia, China, and Iran.”

Venezuela was among the first countries to respond to the devastating earthquake in Syria with aid deliveries in February.

The country deployed food, medicine, and supplies for the earthquake-affected nations and a 50-person team to help with search and rescue efforts. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil also called for the immediate lifting of western sanctions on Syria.

However, while the earthquake in Syria also partially initiated a rapprochement between Syria and its neighbors, the US is attempting to sabotage any efforts to reintegrate Syria into the regional fold.

On 30 May, Washington slapped sanctions on two Syrian money service organizations it claims assist Damascus in retaining access to the international financial system in violation of sanctions. These are Washington’s first punitive measures against Syria since its readmittance to the Arab League.