14.12.2024 16:50
After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and the takeover of the opposition, Turkey's embassy in Damascus was reopened today, 12 years later. As the Turkish flag was raised at the embassy, Acting Charge d'Affaires Burhan Köroğlu also arrived at the residence to begin his duties.
After the operation initiated by the opposition in Syria on November 27, the Baath regime was overthrown. A new era began in the country following the escape of the deposed leader Bashar al-Assad to Moscow, the capital of Russia.
THE TURKISH FLAG HOISTED AT THE EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS
Turkey has taken action for the reopening of its embassy in Syria. Following consecutive statements from Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and President Erdoğan, the Damascus Embassy was reopened after 12 years. The Turkish flag was hoisted at the embassy residence.
ACTING CHARGE D'AFFAIRES HAS STARTED DUTY
The Ambassador of Mauritania, Burhan Köroğlu, has been appointed as the Acting Charge d'Affaires of the Damascus Embassy. Köroğlu came to the embassy and started his duties.
IT WAS CLOSED IN MARCH 2012
The Turkish Embassy located in Damascus, Syria, continued to operate for a while during the period when the regime resorted to violence against peaceful protesters, but it ceased its activities on March 26, 2012. Embassy staff and their families also returned to Turkey with this decision.
DEVELOPMENTS IN SYRIA
On November 27, clashes intensified between anti-regime armed groups and Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria. The groups gained dominance in the largest cities such as Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs between November 30 and December 7. As the groups began to enter the capital Damascus on December 7, with support from the masses, the regime completely lost control in Damascus and many other regions, leading to its collapse.
While the 61-year rule of the Baath Party came to an end, regime leader Assad fled the capital. Meanwhile, the Syrian National Army had also liberated the district center of Tel Rifaat from the terrorist organization PKK/YPG on the first day of the Operation Dawn of Freedom, which was launched in December. With the liberation of the district of Manbij during the operation, the region, which had turned into the largest terrorist stronghold west of the Euphrates River, was cleared of PKK/YPG.