The embassy reopening happened just days after rebels overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad.
ADVERTISEMENTTurkey reopened its embassy in Syria on Saturday, becoming the first country to do so since the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule last weekend.
Some of the Syrian insurgents who overthrew al-Assad had received support from Turkey.
Diplomatic ties had been cut between Syria and Turkey since 2012. The embassy suspended operations 12 years ago due to the insecurity caused during the Syrian civil war.
Several countries maintained diplomatic ties with al-Assad’s government during the conflict, which lasted 13 years, while others reopened their diplomatic missions in recent years as they sought to normalise relations with the regime.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with broadcaster NTV on Friday, « We want to see a terror-free Syria, where minorities are not mistreated. We want an inclusive government in Syria. » He also said that Syrians currently in Turkey will begin to return home in greater numbers as the situation stabilises further.
The embassy reopening occured on the same day that top diplomats the United States, the Arab League and Turkey met in Jordan to discuss how to assist Syria’s transition after the fall of Bashar Assad’s government a week ago.
No Syrian representatives attended the meetings, though US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said American officials have been in direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Syrian insurgent group that led the overthrow of al-Assad’s government, which is currently considered a foreign terrorist organisation by the US.
