Turkiye's intelligence chief visits Syria's capital Damascus

Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın made a high-profile visit to Damascus on Dec. 12, marking the first official visit by a senior foreign official to the Syrian capital since opposition forces toppled Bashar al-Assad.

Footage broadcast by Turkish television channels showed Kalın leaving the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, surrounded by a security detail.

His visit comes amid a shift in Syria's political landscape following the swift ouster of Assad over the weekend, ending his family's five-decade-long rule after 13 years of civil war.

Syria's Information Ministry confirmed that Kalın, accompanied by Qatar's head of state security, Khalfan al-Kaabi, met with Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, and caretaker Prime Minister Mohammad al-Bashir.

Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that spearheaded the overthrow of Assad.

Meanwhile, Türkiye appointed Burhan Köroğlu, currently stationed as ambassador in Mauritania's Nouakchott, as the temporary chargé d'affaires for its Damascus embassy.

The move marks the reopening of the diplomatic mission, which had ceased operations in 2012.

Türkiye and Syria have been at odds since the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011 plunged the latter into a protracted and devastating conflict.

Attempts to normalize ties between the neighbors stalled earlier this year. In a gesture of reconciliation, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in early July he could invite Assad to Türkiye "at any time."

The Syrian leader demanded the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Syria as a precondition for continued talks brokered by Russia.

Ankara maintains that its presence is necessary until Syria is ...