Today marked a historic moment as the first international commercial flight since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime landed at Damascus International Airport. The Qatar Airways flight was welcomed by families and friends of passengers. International air traffic had been nearly nonexistent since December 8, 2011, due to Western sanctions and ongoing conflict. With the resumption of flights, Qatar Airways plans to operate three flights per week to Damascus, reviving air travel to the city after a long hiatus.