Syria's main international airport in Damascus will reopen next week, the new government said Saturday as it seeks to restore a sense of normalcy after Syria. The uprising that overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
This announcement was made against the backdrop of tensions on the Syrian-Lebanese border, where four Lebanese soldiers were wounded in clashes on Friday night. The Lebanese military said that Syrian militants opened fire on Lebanese soldiers at the border.
The new de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Shara, is faced with the challenge of imposing order on a country. As a result of the 14-year civil war, it became a ruin which divided it into numerous warring regions and a proliferation of armed groups.
Mr. al-Sharia, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Islamist group that led the coup that ousted Mr. Assad, tried to project a moderate image. He met with the leaders of Western countries trying to convince both Syrians and foreign governments that the country is on a stable path.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati spoke to Mr al-Shara to discuss the border violence. During the call, Mr. al-Shara promised that “Syrian authorities are doing everything necessary to restore calm on the border and prevent a recurrence,” according to a statement from Mr. Mikati's office.
Authorities in countries bordering Syria feared that Mr. Assad's ouster would plunge into chaos.
In the east of Syria, fighters supported by Turkey continue to fight against the Kurdish forces that created an autonomous region. At the same time, there were scattered clashes with the new regime Those still loyal to Mr. Assad.
On Saturday, forces affiliated with Syria's new government were searching for “remnants of pro-Assad militia” near the central city of Homs after arresting two former officials overnight, according to state media agency SANA.
Israeli forces tried to prevent potential attacks from Syrian territory bombed military facilities sent troops inside the country to the once demilitarized buffer zone between the two sides. Jordan also partially closed the land crossing with Syria.
Mr. al-Shara and his allies tried to destroy the armed groups under the protection of the unified armed forces. Last week, they officially named a new acting defense secretary to oversee the transition.
Here are other events in the region:
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Battle of Gaza: Israel's military says its troops are pressing a three-month ground operation in northern Gaza as Gazan health officials say Israeli forces have besieged an Indonesian hospital, one of the last in the region. The Israeli army says it does not intend to immediately evacuate about 20 patients and medical workers. Israel has repeatedly raided hospitals in Gaza since the war began, saying Hamas was using them as military bases. Hamas denied the accusation.