Saudi Arabia sends Syria civil aviation equipment despite sanctions
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Despite sanctions, the Syrian government receives equipment and spare parts for the maintenance of civil aviation via Bahrain, days after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attended the 33 Arab summit, a source told North Press on Thursday.
A source working in the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) said that maintenance equipment and spare parts, provided by Saudi Arabia, have arrived in the country via Bahrain.
International sanctions have crippled Syrian civil aviation, preventing it from importing airplanes and spare parts for the maintenance of planes.
The source explained that technicians from Qamishli Airport have arrived at Deir ez-Zor Airport to repair planes that have been malfunctioned for years to get them ready for operation before the Hajj season.
In mid-April, the Syrian Ministry of Awqaf announced that it had accepted the application of 17,500 Syrians to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and Switzerland imposed a series of economic sanctions and restrictions mainly as a result of the repression of civilians.
Sanctions imposed by the U.S. against Syria are considered the most severe as they affect third-parties as well.
The international sanctions include a variety of economic restrictions such as import and export restrictions, asset freezes, travel bans, trade embargoes, bans on investment and military equipment.