Syria's main international airport in Damascus will reopen next week, the new government announced on Saturday, aiming to restore a sense of normalcy after the uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad.
The announcement comes amid rising tensions along the Syria-Lebanon border after four Lebanese soldiers were injured in clashes on Friday night. The Lebanese army said Syrian militants opened fire on Lebanese soldiers along the border.
Syria's new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Shara, faces the challenge of bringing order to a country ravaged by a 14-year civil war that has divided the country into war zones and encouraged the proliferation of armed groups. facing.
Al-Shara, who heads the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which spearheaded the surprise attack that toppled al-Assad, has met with senior Western officials and sought to persuade both Syrians and foreigners of moderation. I have tried to give a good image. The government insists the country is on a stable trajectory.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with al-Shara to discuss border violence, the Lebanese leader's office said. Mikati's office said in a statement that Alshara assured in the phone call that “Syrian authorities are taking all necessary measures to restore calm on the border and prevent a recurrence of the problem.”
Authorities in countries bordering Syria were concerned that Mr. Assad's ouster could cause unrest.
In eastern Syria, Turkish-backed fighters continue to fight Kurdish forces who have carved out an autonomous region. At the same time, there have been sporadic clashes between the new government and resistance groups still loyal to al-Assad.
On Saturday, forces under Syria's new government were searching for “remnants of the Assad militia” near the central city of Homs after arresting two former officials overnight, state news agency SANA reported.
In an attempt to deter a potential attack from Syrian territory, the Israeli military has shelled military installations across the country and sent troops into the buffer zone between the two countries, which was once a demilitarized zone. Jordan has also partially closed its land route with Syria.
Al Shara and his allies aim to disband the remaining armed groups under the protection of a single military force. Last week, the government formally appointed a new acting defense minister to oversee the transition.
In another development in the region, Israel pressed ahead with a military operation in Gaza on Saturday. The enclave's Civil Defense, a rescue agency under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, reported at least two airstrikes that left at least 11 people dead and more than 20 missing under rubble across the enclave. The agency does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally. The Israeli military said it hit Hamas fighters in Gaza City in one attack, but did not comment on the other attack.
