Syrian ministers urge lifting of US sanctions in first visit to Doha

Ministers from Syria's transitional government urged the United States to lift its sanctions on Damascus during their first visit to Qatar since overthrowing president Bashar al-Assad.

In a statement, Qatar's foreign ministry said the Gulf country's premier met with Syria's interim foreign minister, defence minister and the new head of intelligence.

Qatari Prime Minister Thani "reiterated the State of Qatar's position in support of Syria's unity, sovereignty and independence," the statement said. Earlier, a Syrian diplomat and a Qatari official confirmed that the foreign minister had arrived on Sunday morning for meetings in Qatar, the host of the US's largest military base in the region. Qatar was the second country, after Türkiye, to reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital following the overthrow of Assad.