Syria's first international rescue team completed its mission in the earthquake zone in Venezuela and returned to Damascus. The team, dispatched by Syria's Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, was welcomed at the airport by Minister Raid al-Saleh and citizens.
In a statement on social media, Minister al-Saleh addressed the team, saying: "You have been your country's best ambassadors, carrying to the world an experience forged in the most difficult conditions and a message whose essence is life." Dozens of Syrians gathered at the airport, holding banners reading "White Helmets" to show appreciation for the team's efforts.
The ministry described the operation as "a milestone in the history of Syrian humanitarian work, as it is the first Syrian rescue team to respond to a cross-border disaster." The team was sent to Venezuela on June 27 and worked alongside the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group (Lekhwiya), affiliated with the Internal Security Forces.
Visam Zeydan, the head of the search and rescue teams and a team member, highlighted the mission's difficulty, saying: "We traveled for more than 26 hours non-stop on the plane." Zeydan added: "We were aware from the outset of the great responsibility and importance of this response because it represents a historic moment in the field of Syrian humanitarian work."
Yusuf Azu, director of the ministry's operations department, stated that this experience provided the skills to coordinate among international teams.