Qatar to reopen its embassy in Syria

16/12/2024 6:05

Qatar will reopen its embassy in

Syria on Tuesday after it was closed for more than 13 years, the

Gulf country's foreign ministry said on Sunday, a week after

Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.



Qatar's embassy in Damascus has been shut since July 2011

when it withdrew its ambassador from Damascus after a series of

deadly crackdowns by Assad's regime on protesters - violence

that led to the 13-year-long civil war.



Doha in recent years did not join efforts by several Arab

countries to mend relations with Assad's government and

re-establish diplomatic relations with Damascus.



A lightning advance by rebels, lead by the Hayat Tahrir

al-Sham (HTS) group - a former al Qaeda affiliate - led to the

ouster of Assad on Dec. 8.



Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement its decision to

reopen the embassy reflects its support for the Syrian people

and their "struggle to attain their legitimate rights for a

dignified life".