Qatari emir visits Syria, meets interim president in Damascus

By Ibrahim Khazen and Rania Abu Shamala

DOHA, Qatar (AA) - Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, marking the first visit by a head of state to Syria since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Sheikh Tamim was welcomed on arrival at Damascus airport by Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a statement by Qatar’s Emiri Diwan said.

The visit is the first by the Qatari emir to Syria in more than 14 years and the first by an Arab or foreign head of state since Dec. 8, 2024.

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.