Qatar has announced that its embassy in Syria will resume operations on Tuesday, marking the end of a 13-year hiatus. The Gulf nation also appointed Khalifa Abdullah Al Mahmoud Al-Sharif as the new head of mission to Syria.
The embassy was closed in July 2011 during the early days of the Syrian uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s government, which escalated into a civil war. Unlike other Arab countries, Qatar refrained from restoring diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad. His ouster in an 11-day rebel advance that captured key cities, including Damascus, paved the way for the transitional government.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry emphasized that reopening the embassy demonstrates Qatar’s support for the Syrian people and their revolution, while rejecting the Assad regime’s repressive policies.
Majed al-Ansari, a foreign ministry spokesperson, confirmed that a Qatari delegation is in Damascus to finalize procedures for the embassy’s reopening. During meetings with the transitional government, Qatar reiterated its commitment to assisting Syrians during this pivotal phase. Discussions also included facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid and assessing urgent needs.
An anonymous official disclosed that Qatar has opened communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group instrumental in Assad’s removal, to promote stability and protect public institutions. Similar engagements with HTS have also been initiated by Turkey and the United States.
