Arab diplomats flock to Damascus for conferences with new Syrian chief

Syria’s new chief Ahmed al-Sharaa held talks Monday with senior Arab diplomats within the newest high-profile visits since Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow.

Sharaa, higher recognized by his former nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Julani and whose Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) spearheaded the offensive that toppled Assad on December 8, has welcomed envoys from the Middle East and past in latest days.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi expressed his nation’s help for Syria’s reconstruction in a gathering with Sharaa in Damascus, within the first journey to Syria by a senior Jordanian official since Assad was toppled.

“Our talks have been clear that we within the Kingdom are prepared to offer help,” Safadi mentioned after the assembly, including that the brand new Syrian administration will need to have the chance to develop its plans. “I centered on reconstruction efforts and Jordan will present help,” Safadi added.

Safadi mentioned he agreed with Sharaa on cooperating to counter the smuggling of medication and weapons from Syria to Jordan — an issue for years underneath Assad.

Safadi additionally famous that Islamic State, with which Sharaa’s group clashed earlier within the Syrian struggle, remained a risk.

The handout image launched by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry exhibits Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (L) being acquired by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) chief Ahmed al-Sharaa (often known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) in Damascus on December 23, 2024. (Photo by Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

“Our brothers in Syria additionally understand that this can be a risk. God keen, we’ll all cooperate, not simply Jordan and Syria, however all Arab international locations and the worldwide neighborhood, in preventing this scourge that poses a risk to everybody,” he mentioned.

Images launched by the international ministry confirmed the pair shaking fingers, whereas Jordan’s official Al-Mamlaka TV reported that Safadi had mentioned avenues of cooperation, together with within the areas of commerce, border administration, help and electrical energy connections, together with safety.

Safadi expressed help for “a authorities that represents all spectrums in Syria,” in addition to for “the drafting of a brand new structure,” in accordance with Al-Mamlaka.

“We comply with help the Syrian individuals in rebuilding their state,” he was quoted as saying, including that “the Arab international locations comply with help Syria at this stage with none exterior interference.”

Qatar’s Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi walks along with his delegation members upon arrival aboard a Qatar Airways Airbus A330-202 plane at Damascus International Airport on December 23, 2024. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)

Qatari delegation

Also in Damascus on Monday was Qatar’s minister of state on the international ministry, Mohammed al-Khulaifi, main the “first high-level Qatari delegation” to Damascus “after 13 years of diplomatic rupture,” his ministry mentioned.

“This go to reaffirms the robust fraternal ties” between Qatar and Syria, and underscored Doha’s “unwavering dedication to supporting and aiding the Syrian individuals of their quest for progress, whereas preserving Syria’s sovereignty,” the international ministry assertion added.

Syrian state information company SANA printed photos of the assembly between Sharaa and the Qatari delegation.

Khulaifi arrived in Damascus aboard “the primary Qatar Airways aircraft to land on the Syrian airport” since Assad’s ouster, international ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari wrote on X.

A Qatari official instructed AFP that “a technical aviation workforce” accompanied the delegation “to evaluate the readiness of Damascus airport to renew operations.”

“Qatar has provided to offer technical help for the resumption of economic and cargo flights, in addition to make sure the airport’s upkeep throughout the transitional part,” the official added.

This handout image launched by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) exhibits Qatar’s Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi (L) being acquired by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) chief Ahmed al-Sharaa (often known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) in Damascus on December 23, 2024. (SANA / AFP)

Saudi talks

A supply near the Saudi authorities instructed AFP on Monday {that a} delegation from the dominion had additionally met with Sharaa in Damascus a day earlier to debate the “Syria state of affairs and captagon,” an unlawful amphetamine-like stimulant.

The drug has flooded the area lately, and was Syria’s largest export underneath Assad, turning the nation into one of many world’s largest narco-states.

Jordan lately has cracked down on the smuggling of weapons and medicines, together with captagon, alongside its 375-kilometer (230-mile) border with Syria.

Iran, in the meantime, mentioned Monday that it had “no direct contact” with Syria’s new rulers for the reason that fall of longtime Tehran ally Assad.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei expressed help for Syria’s sovereignty, and mentioned the nation shouldn’t develop into “a haven for terrorism.”

Sharaa’s HTS is rooted in al-Qaeda’s Syria department, however has sought to average its picture lately.

At a summit in Jordan earlier this month, prime Arab, Turkish, EU and US diplomats referred to as for an inclusive and peaceable transition after years of civil struggle.