Ankara, Dec 1 (UNI) Syria is preparing to reopen its embassy in Ankara and its consulate general in Gaziantep in the near future, the pro-government Turkish daily Milliyet reported Monday, citing diplomatic sources.
According to the report, the reopening of the Syrian Consulate General in Gaziantep has already been placed on the official agenda, and preparations are actively underway to restore operations at the Syrian Embassy in Ankara.
As part of the broader normalization efforts, Turkey has appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz as ambassador to Damascus, its first such appointment in 13 years. Following the reopening of Turkey’s embassy in the Syrian capital, the Turkish Consulate General in Aleppo has also resumed its activities.
These diplomatic developments come amid heightened tensions in southern Syria. After the change of power in Damascus in December 2024, the Israeli army began conducting regular raids in the provinces of Daraa and Quneitra, establishing checkpoints and detaining local residents. The Syrian government has repeatedly urged the international community to pressure Israel to end the operations, warning that the escalation threatens regional stability.
Damascus has repeatedly called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt the aggression, saying that it threatens the stability of the entire region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the 1974 Disengagement Agreement governing the Golan Heights was no longer valid, arguing that Syrian forces had abandoned their positions.
Syria is also set to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group, a move that marks a major shift in Washington’s Middle East policy, according to a senior Trump administration official. The announcement followed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s historic visit to the White House—the first by any Syrian head of state. In an interview on Special Report with Fox News, al-Sharaa called the meeting with President Donald Trump the beginning of a “new era,” signaling Syria’s readiness to work closely with the United States on regional security and counterterrorism efforts.
President Trump publicly expressed strong support for al-Sharaa, despite the Syrian leader having been designated a terrorist by the U.S. government until recently. The two leaders emphasized that cooperation against ISIS would serve as the foundation for a broader diplomatic thaw, underscoring a dramatic reorientation in both countries’ strategic priorities.
