Damascus: The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority announced that it has taken over the management of Qamishli International Airport in northeastern Syria, under an agreement with the YPG/SDF.

According to Anadolu Agency, the authority assumed control as part of a broader agreement signed between Damascus and the SDF. This significant move involved a field visit by several department directors to assess the airport’s technical and administrative status and to discuss mechanisms for resuming operations in compliance with international safety and efficiency standards.

Authority chief Omar al-Hosari described the takeover 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 is strategically significant, being the only airport in areas that were previously under SDF control, and has not supported civil flights for the past 15 years.

On February 8, a delegation from the Syrian Interior Ministry met with SDF representatives to discuss the handover of the airport’s administration, as reported by SANA. Earlier, on January 30, the Syrian government announced a ‘comprehensive agreement’ with the SDF aimed at ending division in the country and initiating a new phase of integration. This agreement covers the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli and complements a previous agreement signed on January 18, focusing on military force integration.

The latest agreement follows a military operation by the Syrian Army, which regained control over large areas in eastern and northeastern Syria after repeated SDF violations of a March 2025 accord.