A warplane from the Czech Republic carrying medical aid and equipment arrived in Damascus on Sunday. It was a gift from the Czech Red Cross to the Syrian Red Crescent.

It was the first European plane to deliver aid to Syria's government-held region since the start of the civil war. The Syrian Red Crescent says the aid will go to cities in need.

The Czech government announced in April that it had approved the delivery of two batches of humanitarian aid valued one hundred and sixty-six thousand US dollars.