ANKARA – Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Damascus on Sunday for a significant meeting with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani. Sharaa, the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a pivotal role in toppling Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, was photographed with Fidan walking alongside a crowded delegation before posing for photos, with moments of handshakes, hugs, and smiles shared between the two.
The Turkish foreign ministry did not provide further details on the meeting, but it follows a statement from Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, in which he pledged support for Syria’s new administration in forming a state structure and drafting a new constitution. Erdogan mentioned that Fidan would be heading to Damascus to discuss these issues, although no specific date was given.
The meeting comes shortly after Ibrahim Kalin, head of Turkey’s MIT intelligence agency, visited Damascus on Dec. 12, just days after Assad’s fall. Turkey had long supported rebel factions fighting against Assad’s regime and has celebrated the end of the Assad family’s rule, which spanned over five decades. In addition to political support, Turkey has also hosted millions of Syrian refugees, many of whom Ankara hopes will begin returning to Syria as the country moves toward reconstruction and stabilization under its new leadership.
Fidan’s visit coincides with ongoing fighting in northeastern Syria, where Turkish-backed Syrian fighters are clashing with Kurdish YPG militia forces. The YPG is a central part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an ally of the U.S. in the region, but one that Turkey regards as a terrorist organization. Turkey has long sought to eliminate the YPG’s presence in northeastern Syria, and Fidan’s visit highlights Ankara’s confidence that the new Syrian leadership will work with Turkey to remove the YPG from the region.
Turkey’s defense minister recently expressed belief that Syria’s new government, which includes groups supported by Ankara like the Syrian National Army (SNA), will help push the YPG out of northeastern Syria. As the Syrian Democratic Forces face increasing pressure from both Turkish forces and Syrian allies, they are looking to preserve their political gains amid the shifting dynamics following Assad’s ousting.