Syria to reopen Aleppo airport to civilian flights

DAMASCUS — The airport in Syria's northern hub of Aleppo is to reopen to civilian flights this week for the first time since the war forced its closure in 2012, state media said Monday.

The SANA agency quoted Transport Minister Ali Hammoud as saying that "Aleppo International Airport has resumed operations".

The first flight — from Damascus to Aleppo — is scheduled for Wednesday, with more flights to Cairo and Damascus lined up in following days, it said.

The announcement comes days after Damascus secured the perimeter around Aleppo during a broad offensive against rebels in the north of the country.

The offensive against the last rebel bastion in Syria has also seen government troops retake significant ground in neighbouring Idlib province.

The assault allowed the government to secure the M5 highway connecting Aleppo to Damascus.

Civilian flights had stopped completely at Aleppo airport when rebels seized control of large parts of the city in 2012.

Trial flights took off from Aleppo in 2017, days after the end of a devastating siege that ended rebel groups' hopes to taking over Syria's second city.