Damascus: Germany has officially reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus after a 13-year hiatus. This significant development was marked by the presence of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday, as she led the reopening ceremony.

According to Anadolu Agency, the announcement was made by Stefan Schneck, the German special envoy to Syria, who shared the news on X. Schneck expressed Germany's commitment to collaborating with Syrians to foster a better future for the country. He noted that the embassy's operational team remains small at this stage.

Schneck further clarified that visa and consular services would continue to be managed from Beirut for the time being. This decision reflects the cautious approach being taken as diplomatic relations are re-established.

The reopening of the German embassy comes after many Arab and foreign nations closed their diplomatic missions in Syria back in 2011. This was in response to the violent crackdown launched by the regime of Bashar al-Assad against pro-democracy protests.

Bashar al-Assad, who had led Syria for nearly 25 years, was forced to flee to Russia in December after anti-regime groups seized control of Damascus, effectively ending the Baath Party's decades-long rule. In the wake of this regime change, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a key leader in the anti-regime forces, was appointed as president for a transitional period in late January.