Qatar’s embassy in Syria set to resume operations after 13-year hiatus
In a significant diplomatic move, Qatar has announced the resumption of its embassy operations in Syria, effective Tuesday. This announcement comes after a delegation of Qatari diplomats visited the country and engaged with officials from the transitional government following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.
The Qatari foreign ministry confirmed in a statement, “Qatar announces the resumption of the work of its embassy in the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic starting the day after tomorrow, Tuesday.” The statement also named Khalifa Abdullah Al Mahmoud Al-Sharif as the new head of mission to Syria.
The embassy in Damascus was originally closed and its ambassador recalled in July 2011 during the early stages of the uprising against Assad’s regime, which evolved into an ongoing civil war.
In contrast to other Arab nations, Qatar did not reestablish diplomatic relations with Syria under Assad’s rule, which was marked by a brutal crackdown on dissent. Doha stated that this return symbolizes “Qatar’s principled stand with the Syrian people’s revolution” and a “categorical rejection of all the repressive policies of the regime.”
According to foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari, a Qatari delegation is currently in Syria to complete the necessary arrangements for the embassy’s reopening. “The delegation reaffirmed Qatar’s full commitment to supporting the Syrian people… following the success of their revolution,” he noted.
During their discussions, the delegation also talked about facilitating humanitarian aid from Qatar to meet the needs of the Syrian population during this critical period.
In a related development, Qatar has reportedly established its first channel of communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that has played a significant role in the regime’s ousting. An anonymous official indicated that the discussions focus on maintaining stability and preserving Syria’s public institutions throughout the transition.
This move by Qatar aligns with actions from other nations, including Turkey and the United States, which have also initiated contact with HTS.
