Türkiye 's foreign minister visits Syria, seeks ties with interim government

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met the head of a group leading Syria's interim government during his visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday.

Golani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is taking the initiative in forming a new Cabinet of the Syrian interim government. Fidan told reporters after talks with Golani that Turkey will support Syria's reconstruction and the return of its refugees.

He urged governments around the world to lift all economic sanctions imposed on Syria under ousted President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Fidan also called for the protection of minority groups in Syria to create a nation where all religions coexist. Türkiye is apparently trying to establish a relationship with Syria's interim government before others and increase its influence in the country.