Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, met with Ahmad Al-Sharaa, head of the Operations Directorate in Damascus, on Monday.

This marks the first high-ranking Qatari visit to Syria in over a decade, following years of severed ties.

The Qatari delegation, led by Al-Khulaifi, arrived in Damascus earlier in the day, signaling a shift in relations after 13 years of strained diplomatic ties with the former Syrian regime.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the visit as “a reaffirmation of the strong fraternal relations between Qatar and Syria.” It further emphasized Qatar’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Syrian people and safeguarding Syria’s sovereignty and independence.

Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, announced that the delegation would engage in a series of meetings with Syrian officials. Specific details about the agenda or outcomes of these meetings have yet to be disclosed.

Qatar’s visit comes amid evolving regional dynamics and efforts to rebuild ties with Syria. The restoration of relations signals a potential thaw in the diplomatic isolation imposed on Damascus since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011.

This high-level engagement underscores a growing momentum among Arab nations to strengthen ties with Syria, balancing strategic interests and humanitarian concerns in the region. (ILKHA)