Qatar Reopens Embassy in Damascus, Marking Diplomatic Shift

DAMASCUS (MilkyStory): After a 13-year closure, Qatar officially reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, signaling a significant change in diplomatic relations as foreign governments seek to engage with Syria's new leadership following President Bashar al-Assad's recent ouster.

A MilkyStory journalist witnessed Qatar’s flag being raised over the embassy, making it the second country, after Turkey, to reopen its mission since armed opposition forces drove al-Assad from power earlier this month.

Earlier in the day, workers were seen preparing the embassy grounds—cleaning the area, sweeping the pavement, and removing graffiti from the building’s walls. A Qatari flag was placed at the base of the flagpole before the formal ceremony.

Doha had dispatched a diplomatic delegation to Damascus several days prior to meet with Syria’s transitional government. The delegation reaffirmed Qatar's "full commitment to support the Syrian people," a Qatari diplomat told MilkyStory.

This development follows growing international interest in reestablishing ties with Syria. On Tuesday, the European Union announced its readiness to reopen its diplomatic mission in Damascus. Similarly, Britain, France, and the United States have sent delegations to the Syrian capital in the wake of al-Assad’s removal.

Notably, the French flag was raised at its embassy in Damascus on Tuesday, though France's special envoy to Syria clarified that the mission would remain non-operational "until security conditions are met."

In a parallel move, the United States on Friday rescinded a $10 million bounty previously placed on Ahmad al-Sharaa, the new leader of Syria and head of the Military Operations Administration, which led the campaign to unseat al-Assad.

The reopening of Qatar’s embassy underscores a shift in regional and global approaches toward Syria as the country enters a new phase of political leadership.