Head of new Syrian administration and Qatari emir to meet Thursday, says Damascus

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ahmed al-Sharaa, head of the new Syrian administration, is scheduled to meet with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Thursday at an as yet unspecified location.

“The head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, will meet with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad,” the Syrian Presidency said Wednesday on its official Telegram channel.

Syrian media outlets said the meeting will take place in the capital Damascus.

No official confirmation has yet been issued by the Qatari side regarding the visit or its details, but if it takes place, Tamim would become the first Arab leader to visit Damascus since the ousting of the Assad regime.

Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

A new administration led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa has now taken control of the country.