Turkish Foreign Minister meets Syrian Interim Leader amid political shift in Damascus

English , Middle East - مشرق وسطٰی , Snippets , / Sunday, December 22nd, 2024

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Anadolu Ajansı

Istanbul: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met Ahmed al Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s new administration, during a visit to Damascus on Sunday, Turkish diplomatic sources confirmed.

The meeting, held in the Syrian capital, was also attended by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz, Türkiye’s Acting Charge d’Affaires in Damascus Burhan Koroglu, and Esaad Hasan Seyban, who now serves as the interim Syrian foreign minister.

In parallel developments, a senior US diplomat for the Middle East visited Damascus on Friday, holding talks with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Discussions reportedly focused on fostering an “inclusive” political process, according to the US State Department.

This high-level engagement follows significant political upheaval in Syria. On Dec. 8, anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus, leading to the flight of President Bashar Assad to Russia. This marked the collapse of the Baath Party regime, which had ruled Syria since 1963.

These diplomatic efforts signal a renewed focus on stabilizing Syria and navigating its political transition.