UPDATE - Saudi Arabia sends new aid plane to Syria amid relief airlift

UPDATES WITH ARRIVAL OF QATARI AID PLANE, CHANGES DECK

By Laith Al-Jnaidi

ISTANBUL (AA) - A third Saudi plane carrying humanitarian aid arrived in Damascus on Thursday, as part of the kingdom’s relief airlift to Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime last month.

The Saudi state news agency SPA reported that the plane was loaded with food, shelter, and medical supplies by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

The aid shipment is part of the Saudi efforts to help the Syrian people in their critical circumstances, SPA said, reaffirming the kingdom's "longstanding support for the people of Syria in times of crisis."

Saudi Arabia dispatched two aid planes to Syria on Wednesday.

According to SPA, the Saudi aid to the Syrian people from 2011 to the end of 2024 reached nearly $857 million.

Meanwhile, the Syrian state news agency SANA said a Qatari airplane also arrived at Damascus airport, the second this week.

According to SANA, the Qatari plane was loaded with 20 tons of food supplies as part of Qatar’s emergency airlift to Syria.

On Monday, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced the arrival of the first direct aid flight to Damascus since Assad’s fall.

Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party's regime, which had been in power since 1963.

The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.

A new administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa has now taken charge.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar