Emirates has officially resumed service to Syria's capital, Damascus, on July 16, the UAE state press release announced.

The flag carrier's relaunch of flights to the Syrian capital comes hours after Israeli jets bombed Syrian government buildings in the centre of the city. The relaunch of flights, however, was planned before the latest intra-Syrian clashes to the south of Damascus between Druze and Sunni Syrian officials. 

Flight EK 913 arrived at Damascus International Airport at 14:30 with 286 passengers aboard, receiving an official welcome that included traditional water cannon salutes.

UAE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency Dr Ahmed bin Abdullah Humaid Balhoul Al Falasi was aboard the flight, alongside an Emirates delegation including Adel Al Redha, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The delegation was welcomed by Hassan Ahmed Al Shahi, UAE Ambassador to Syria, and a high-level Syrian official delegation including Amjad Nakhal, director of Communication and Executive Support at the Syrian General Civil Aviation Authority, and Anis Flouh, director of Damascus International Airport.

Adel Al Ghaith, senior vice president commercial operations for the Central Region, said: "We celebrate today the resumption of our flights to Damascus, as this service will contribute to connecting the Syrian capital with the world and reuniting families, friends and communities from around the world."

He added that the UAE and Syria have maintained strong bilateral relations over decades, with Syria being an important market for Emirates since flights began in 1988.

Alaa Salal, director of public relations at the Syrian General Civil Aviation Authority, said the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority team and UAE team had made continuous efforts characterised by high coordination and shared vision to create the necessary technical and administrative conditions for resuming flights.

Emirates will begin operating three weekly flights in the first phase on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, with plans to increase to four weekly flights from August 2 by adding a Saturday flight.

The carrier will expand its services to the Syrian capital to daily flights from October 26.