Damascus: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday for talks with his Syrian counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani, Syrian media reported. The Syrian television Alikhbaria said Barrot arrived at the Tishreen Palace in Damascus, where he was received by Shaibani for official talks.

According to Anadolu Agency, the visit marks the first stop in Barrot's Middle East tour, which will also take him to Iraq and Lebanon. This was confirmed in a statement by French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux on Wednesday.

The discussions between Barrot and Shaibani are expected to focus on regional developments and bilateral issues. This comes amid ongoing diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, highlighting the importance of dialogue and cooperation within the region.