Syria’s main international airport in Damascus is set to reopen next week, as the new government strives to restore a sense of normalcy following the uprising that led to the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.
This announcement coincides with heightened tensions along the Syria-Lebanon border, where four Lebanese soldiers were injured during clashes on Friday night. The Lebanese military reported that Syrian militants had targeted its soldiers.
Ahmad al-Shara, the de facto leader of Syria, faces the significant challenge of establishing order in a nation ravaged by 14 years of civil war, which has fragmented it into various warring regions and resulted in a surge of armed groups.
Mr. al-Shara, who heads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham—the Islamist group that led the successful attack against Mr. al-Assad—has been working to cultivate a moderate image. He has engaged with Western officials and aimed to reassure both the Syrian populace and international governments of the country's movement towards stability.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati communicated with Mr. al-Shara regarding the recent border violence. According to a statement from the Lebanese leader’s office, Mr. al-Shara assured that “the Syrian authorities are doing everything necessary to restore calm on the border and prevent the matter from recurring.”
Regional authorities had expressed concerns that the removal of Mr. Assad could lead to instability spilling over into neighboring countries.
In eastern Syria, Turkish-backed forces are continuing their conflict with Kurdish groups that have established an autonomous region. Additionally, there have been sporadic confrontations between the new regime and factions still loyal to Mr. al-Assad.
On Saturday, forces aligned with the new Syrian government were reported to be searching for “remnants of the Assadist militias” near Homs, as stated by the SANA state media agency, following the arrest of two former officials.
In response to potential threats from Syrian territory, Israeli forces have targeted military sites across Syria and deployed troops into a previously demilitarized buffer zone. Jordan has also partially closed its ground crossing with Syria.
Mr. al-Shara and his associates are working to consolidate the remaining militant groups into a unified armed force. Recently, they appointed a new acting defense minister to oversee this transition.
Here are other developments in the region: