First Flight to Damascus...

There have been very few journeys in my life that have filled me with such excitement. I am certain that on Thursday morning, as the Turkish Airlines plane named "Akdeniz" took off from Istanbul, glided over Cyprus and Lebanon, and finally landed in Damascus—13 years later—there were many who shared this same feeling. The heartfelt joy of the Syrian passengers on board, the songs they sang together, the tears they shed, and the prayers of gratitude they offered as soon as they stepped onto the tarmac were all reflections of this shared sentiment. For some among them, it was their first time seeing their homeland. Others had been separated from their country for decades due to the arbitrary bans imposed by the Baath regime. There were even passengers who had traveled all the way from the United States just to be part of this inaugural flight. The unfiltered joy they displayed upon reaching Damascus was truly a sight to behold.

During the flight, the skies over Lebanon were closed, but the snowy peaks of the mountains—white as the name of the country suggests—were visible through breaks in the clouds. Finally, as we entered Syrian airspace, the clouds dispersed, and we descended toward Damascus Airport with Mount Qasioun and the city in full view.

As the plane approached Damascus International Airport, the extent of the devastation in the city’s outer neighborhoods became shockingly clear. Areas like Douma, Harasta, and others, where the Iranian-backed Bashar al-Assad regime had once dropped barrel bombs on its own people, resembled disaster zones that had endured multiple earthquakes. Similar destruction was visible in Yarmouk and Hajar al-Aswad. Yarmouk, originally a refugee camp established for Palestinians displaced by the Israeli occupation, had seen its inhabitants besieged by the Assad regime for months, with some even dying of starvation. And yet, the Baath regime claims to be part of the “axis of resistance” against Israel.

Another striking aspect of observing Damascus from above was the vast expanse of fertile land and greenery surrounding the city. Despite the war and destruction, Damascus’ fertile soil still offered a sense of hope. Ghouta, known throughout Islamic history as the “paradise of the West” (just as Samarkand was the “paradise of the East”), retained its bounty even as it bore the scars of immense suffering. It was as if the very land of Syria, after enduring its darkest period, was preparing itself for the promises of a brighter future.

I often emphasize this point: since 2011, the events in Syria have not only caused multifaceted humanitarian crises but have also dealt a significant blow to our collective imagination and memory. For many ordinary people in Türkiye, the region of Bilad al-Sham, which includes Syria, has been reduced to a symbol of the refugee crisis, political polemics, and domestic tensions. One of the most profound intellectual, spiritual, and historical hubs of the Islamic world—Syria—was sidelined and confined to the narrative of a refugee issue, excluded from our horizons. Now, as communication and transportation links with this valuable neighbor rapidly improve, we are presented with a golden opportunity to rediscover Syria in its true and authentic identity.

The resumption of Turkish Airlines flights between Istanbul and Damascus is undoubtedly one of the elements that has increased Türkiye’s visibility on the Syrian stage. Türkiye’s active role and open support during the process of ousting the Baath regime are already well known. As stability takes root in Syria and the pieces slowly fall into place, it is becoming evident that one of the greatest challenges for the new Syrian leadership will be establishing and maintaining a balance between the Arab world and Türkiye. The Arab League, led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt and already competing with Qatar, has entered the scene to dominate the political landscape in Syria. Damascus Airport has been hosting consecutive cargo flights from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, Cairo, and Abu Dhabi are closely monitoring developments in Damascus and formulating highly detailed roadmaps within the context of their own agendas.

In this atmosphere, where the rebuilding of a country reduced to ruins is generating global interest and competition, Türkiye continues to uphold its principles. Rather than viewing Syria as a province or district, Türkiye recognizes it as a sovereign and valuable neighbor with its own distinct identity and significance. Türkiye equates Syria’s prosperity and stability with its own. While standing steadfastly by Syria’s side with all its experience and resources, Türkiye also wisely refrains from adopting a negative stance, such as attempting to manipulate or pressure Damascus’ new leadership from the outside.