UPDATE – Qatar’s prime minister arrives in Damascus, vows to support Syria
Qatar's prime minister calls for Israel’s withdrawal from buffer zone with Syria
UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK
By Ibrahim Khazen
DOHA, Qatar (AA) – Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani arrived in Damascus on Thursday, marking his first visit to Syria since last month’s fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Upon arrival, bin Abdulrahman held talks with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s new leadership.
“We are ready to cooperate with Syria’s new administration on various fronts, including lifting sanctions,” he told a joint press conference with al-Sharaa.
The Qatari premier condemned Israel’s seizure of the buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
"The Israeli seizure of the buffer zone with Syria is condemned and it must withdraw immediately,” he added.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari said early Thursday that the visit confirms Qatar’s commitment to supporting Syria during its transitional period.
The visit follows Qatar’s reopening of its embassy in Damascus in late December, ending a closure that had lasted since 2011 following the Assad regime’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
Earlier this month, Doha hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, further emphasizing Qatar’s role in fostering diplomatic ties with post-Assad Syria.
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.
*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul
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