ALBAWABA- Turkey reopened its embassy in Syria on Saturday, after a 12-year closure, marking a significant diplomatic step.
The reopening comes less than a week after armed factions supported by Turkey entered Damascus, according to a journalist from AFP.
The Turkish flag was raised at the embassy, which is located in the Al-Rawda district, which hosts numerous diplomatic missions.
The ceremony was attended by Burhan Kor Oglu, the newly appointed chargé d’affaires, and representatives of the transitional government led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Burhan Kor Oglu, who previously served as Turkey's ambassador to Nouakchott, was named as the head of the mission.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday that embassy staff and the mission head had departed for Damascus.
Turkey had closed its embassy in Damascus on March 26, 2012, a year after the outbreak of the Syrian conflict, citing deteriorating security conditions and calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
Turkey formally welcomed the fall of Assad’s regime on December 8, and on Thursday, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin visited the Syrian capital, as shown in footage broadcast by Turkish media.
