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Self-Management Officially Announces the Administration of Al-Qamishli Airport
The Executive Council of the "Self-Administration of North and East Syria" announced today, Saturday, the formation of the "General Directorate of Al-Qamishli International Airport," in a move that confirms their official control over the airport located in the city of Al-Qamishli, northeastern Syria. This announcement comes in response to Damascus’s strong rejection, which confirmed that the airport is officially closed and that no party has the right to operate or manage it without the approval of the Syrian government.
The text of the council’s decision stated that the General Directorate of the airport will report directly to the Self-Administration and will be responsible for all administrative and financial affairs, as well as managing the assets and properties linked to the airport. The decision clarified that the new administration will begin its duties from the date of the decision’s issuance, with authorities tasked to implement the instructions.
The airport hosts a Russian military base used for transporting equipment and military personnel, with helicopter flights and flights by the Il-76 military transport aircraft operating between Hmeimim base in Latakia and the airport. Civilian air traffic has been suspended since the Syrian regime was overthrown in 2024, leaving the airport solely for military use.
Damascus: The Airport Is Closed for Operational Reasons
The "General Authority of Syrian Civil Aviation" announced on Saturday evening that Al-Qamishli Airport is currently closed for operational reasons, according to an emergency notice (NOTAM) issued by the authority. In an official statement, it confirmed that the airport is "currently closed to all flight operations, and the decision is mandatory and binding for all airlines and concerned parties, both locally and internationally."
The authority emphasized that it is the sole legal entity with the right to manage and operate national airports and organize air traffic, including issuing any navigational notices or amendments. It stated that "the decision regarding the operation or use of the airport is issued exclusively by the authority, and any attempt to use it without official approval and coordination is a violation of international laws and regulations."
Analyst’s Commentary: An Attempt to Solidify Autonomous Authority... and Practical Rejection from Damascus
In a comment on the developments, Syrian political analyst, Bassam Suleiman, who is close to the government, told "Al-Araby Al-Jadeed" that “this decision is merely an attempt to confirm that the Self-Administration acts independently of the General Authority of Civil Aviation. However, it will have no practical impact on aviation operations, such as the landing of foreign aircraft at the airport.” He added that “these actions appear contradictory to reality, reflecting that the Self-Administration forms a de facto authority relying on external support, and behaves in a reckless manner at times, according to his words.”
