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On January 30, 2025, Telegram channels affiliated with Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) reported that Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, visited Damascus where he met with HTS leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a.k.a. Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani, who was recently declared Syria's transitional President.[1]
This was the first visit by a head of state to the Syrian capital since the fall of the Bashar Al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024.
The Qatari Emir was received at Damascus International Airport by Al-Sharaa, leading a senior delegation that included Syria's Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs.
According to a statement issued by the Qatari royal court, Sheikh Tamim emphasized during his visit that "the State of Qatar's position is in support of the unity, sovereignty, and independence of Syria, praising the efforts exerted by the new Syrian administration to achieve stability, preserve the capabilities of the State, and secure the essential needs of the Syrian people."[2]
It also noted that the Qatari Emir "highlighted the urgent need to form a government that represents all segments of the Syrian people to consolidate stability and move forward with reconstruction, development and prosperity projects, affirming that the State of Qatar will continue to stand with the Syrian brethren to achieve their goals for which they fought to reach a state of unity, justice and freedom."
Telegram channels affiliated with HTS published photos showing the two leaders visiting Mount Qasioun, overlooking the city of Damascus.[3]
Background
Qatar which closed its embassy in Damascus in July 2011 to protest Al-Assad's crackdown on demonstrators hosted the new Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani in Doha.[4]
The Emir's visit to Damascus comes after a meeting between the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Al-Sharaa in Damascus in mid-January, as part of Qatari efforts to enhance dialogue with the new Syrian leadership.[5]
[1] Telegram, January 30, 2025.
[2] January 30, 2025.
[3] Telegram, January 30, 2025.
[4] January 30, 2025.
[5] January 30, 2025.
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