Syrian authorities have taken control of Qamishli Airport, previously held by Kurdish forces, as part of a broader process to integrate them into the state, the official news agency Syrian Arab News Agency reported on Saturday.
The Kurdish minority, which established an autonomous zone in northern Syria during the civil war, has been forced under pressure from the Syrian army to hand over several strongholds to government forces. The airport — seized by Kurdish forces after the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 — now passes to the Islamist-led government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Officials from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation inspected the site and discussed ways to resume operations in line with international regulations, SANA said. The handover marks “an important step in unifying airport management under state supervision”, the agency quoted civil aviation chief Omar al-Housari as saying.
Qamishli Airport, the only airport in northeastern Syria, has long served as a vital hub for residents, particularly during the 2011–24 civil war. It remained under Damascus’s control for years, operating regular flights linking the city to the capital.
From November 2019, it was also used as a Russian military base, reflecting Moscow’s close alliance with Assad. Operations were suspended following Assad’s removal, and Russia withdrew its forces in early 2026.
Under an agreement announced in late January, Kurdish authorities are also required to transfer control of oil fields — the main source of funding for their autonomous administration — hand over border crossings and integrate their forces into four brigades within the national military structure.