Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, appointed by the country's new rulers, arrived in Doha on Sunday to meet Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a Qatari official told Reuters.
Syrian official news agency SANA confirmed the arrival of the Syrian delegation, which includes the country's Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and head of intelligence Anas Khattab. They were set to meet Sheikh Mohammed, who also serves as Qatar's foreign minister, and other senior Qatari officials, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, the official said.
Minister of State for International Cooperation @MANAlMisned Meets Syria's New Administration Foreign Minister#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/Nxz0wUhB2z
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) January 5, 2025
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the topics of discussion included Qatari humanitarian aid to Syria, and reiterating Qatar's call for "intensified international efforts to increase humanitarian aid to the Syrian people."
The Syrian minister's visit to Qatar is his second foreign trip in less than a month since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels on Dec. 8.