French President Emmanuel Macron landed in Damascus on Monday evening for the first official visit by a Western head of state to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani greeted him at the airport. According to Abu Ali Express, Abu Muhammad al-Julani was waiting for Macron at the Presidential Palace for the meeting.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday evening, marking the first official visit by a Western head of state to Syria since the fall of the Assad regime. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received Macron at the airport. According to the Arabic outlet Abu Ali Express, Abu Muhammad al-Julani — the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who has emerged as Syria's de facto ruler since the opposition takeover — was waiting for Macron at the Presidential Palace for their meeting.
The visit follows the establishment of the first official channel between Syria's new leadership and a Western leader, as noted by Abu Ali Express. Macron's arrival with sunglasses and his reception by the foreign minister were documented in reports from multiple sources including journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12).
As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday (at 19:47), Macron's arrival marked a historic diplomatic moment. The meeting with al-Julani, if confirmed, would represent the highest-level direct engagement between a Western power and the new Syrian leadership. No further details about the agenda or duration of the meeting have been disclosed.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake