Diary of the Syrian Transition – December 12, 2024

News:

-It was announced that the educational process will resume in public and private schools and universities, starting from Sunday 12/15/2024, with emphasis on the readiness of all institutions to ensure the educational process runs regularly and effectively.

-The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria announces that it will raise the Syrian independence flag on all its institutions.

-Turkish Ambassador to Nouakchott Burhan Koroglu appointed Chargé d’Affaires of Ankara’s Embassy in Damascus.

Statements from Foreign Leaders/Organizations:

-Spanish Foreign Minister: It is important to establish relations with the new authorities in Syria.

-EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas: Transformations in Syria open the door to a more stable future. We intend to support Syria to achieve political and social stability.

-Joint Saudi-British Statement: We welcome the steps to preserve the institutions and capabilities of the Syrian state. We call on the international community to stand by the Syrian people and provide support to Syria. It is time for the Syrian people to enjoy security and stability.

Statements from Syrian Leaders:

-Military Operations Department: Any individual action that does not comply with the instructions not to harm people and property does not represent the Operations Management and will be dealt with firmly and strictly.

-Aleppo University Management Committee: Full return to work for all employees (faculty members – administrators) with all their duties and titles. Launching a student volunteer campaign in all colleges, technical institutes, central directorates and centers starting from Thursday 12/12/2024, noting that the weekly holiday is Friday and Saturday. Launching a student volunteer campaign to participate in cleaning and organizing work in all colleges and technical institutes under the supervision of the college deanship and institute administration, and in full coordination with members of the teaching staff. Receiving students residing in the university city starting from Sunday 12/15/2024 in preparation for the resumption of the academic year. Allowing the opening of the Aleppo University Kindergarten, affiliated with the University Teachers Syndicate.

-Head of the Craftsmen Association for Goldsmithing, Jewelry, and Precious Stones in Damascus, Ghassan Jazmati: All goldsmith shops will return to work next Saturday, expecting a decrease in the price of a gram of gold locally, affected by the decrease in the local exchange rate.

-Under the direct instructions of the General Command, American journalist Travis Timmerman has been released and secured, and the search for American citizen Austin Tice is ongoing. We confirm our readiness to cooperate directly with the US administration to complete the search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime.

-Caretaker Minister of Transport Bahaa El-Din Sharm: In the coming hours, Syrian airspace will be opened to air traffic. We are working on preparing civil airports and all cadres are carrying out the necessary maintenance to receive and take off aircraft through Syrian airports. Aleppo International Airport has been prepared and the operating date for Damascus and Aleppo airports will be announced in the coming days. Work is ongoing to prepare and arrange the procedures for border crossings with neighboring countries.

-Minister of Communications: We have taken a decision to cancel customs duties on individual mobile devices starting today until June 1, 2025. The process of activating all stopped mobile devices will be carried out gradually within a maximum period of 10 hours. We will provide offers on the Syriatel and MTN networks to relieve the people

Primary Sources:

General Command of Syria:

Note: There is currently no official account under the name of Commander Ahmed Al-Sharaa on social media sites.

The King of Bahrain, in a letter to Ahmad al-Shar’a, announces his readiness to consult and provide support to Syria and restore its original role in the Arab League

Receiving the head of the Turkish Intelligence Service, Ibrahim Kalin, during his visit to the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus

Military Operations Department:

The Military Operations Department warns against attacks on persons and property under penalty of liability. It stresses that any individual action that does not comply with these instructions does not represent it and will be confronted with all firmness and severity and its perpetrator will be held accountable and punished.

The Military Police of the Military Operations Department enters the city of Deir al-Zour to establish security and supervise the process of handing over centers and institutions