Iranians and Israelis barred from entering Syria, airport source says
Iranian and Israeli citizens have been banned from entering Syria, a source from Damascus airport said, after international flights to the country resumed last week. Syria's new leadership has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has frozen relations with Tehran since the ouster of former ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Iranians and Israelis have been banned from flying to Syria, which is under new leadership since last month's overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, an airport source said.
International flights resumed at Syria's main airport in Damascus on January 7, almost a month after Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad after a lightning offensive.
Just a few airlines have since resumed or announced they will resume flights to Syria.
A Damascus airport source said the facility's authorities told airlines operating in Syria not to allow Israelis and Iranians to board flights to the country.
The source, not being authorised to brief the media, spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday.
Syria and Israel are technically at war and do not have diplomatic ties, and Israeli nationals have long been unable to enter the country.
Qatar Airways was the first international carrier to announce it would resume flying to Damascus.
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