The regime change occurred after a rapid offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters, who captured key cities in less than two weeks, leading to the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, the European Union and Ukraine have pledged aid to support Syria during this humanitarian crisis.

Syria has endured 13 years of civil war, compounded by Western sanctions, resulting in widespread devastation and a severely impacted infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia has been a consistent supporter of the Syrian population since the uprising began in 2011, contributing nearly $857 million in humanitarian aid by the end of 2024.

Saudi Arabia has initiated a humanitarian air bridge to Syria, delivering essential supplies in response to the ongoing crisis, with the first flights taking place on January 1, 2025.

On January 2, 2025, a third Saudi plane arrived in Damascus, following two earlier flights on January 1, all aimed at supporting recovery efforts after the recent regime change.

The United Nations has reported that seven out of ten people in Syria now require humanitarian aid, underscoring the severity of the ongoing crisis.

Following the overthrow of Assad on December 8, 2024, a high-ranking Saudi delegation met with Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to discuss future cooperation.

The airlift initiative aims to address critical humanitarian needs in Syria, marking the end of 61 years of Baath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family leadership.

Millions of Syrians have been displaced due to the conflict, and the World Health Organization has indicated that about half of the country's hospitals are currently non-operational.

Abdullah al-Rabeeah, head of KSrelief, announced that the air bridge will soon be succeeded by a land bridge to further assist the Syrian population.

The aid operation is organized by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, which is providing food, shelter, and medical supplies to those in need.