Türkiye reopens its Embassy in Syria, appointing Ambassador Koroglu as charge d’affaires to Damascus

Türkiye’s Ambassador to Mauritania, Burhan Koroglu, has been appointed acting charge d’affaires at the Türkiye Embassy in Damascus, according to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Koroglu, who is currently serving in Nouakchott, Mauritania, was informed of the assignment by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

The Türkiye Embassy in Damascus, located near Ravda Square where many diplomatic missions are based, temporarily suspended operations on March 26, 2012, after the Syrian regime’s violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. Embassy staff and their families were subsequently recalled to Türkiye.

Meanwhile, the Türkiye Consulate General in Istanbul has continued its operations.

Syria after the fallen regime

Clashes between armed Syrian opposition groups and Bashar al-Assad’s forces escalated on November 27. From November 30 to December 7, opposition forces took control of key cities, including Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, and Homs.

By December 7, opposition groups entered Damascus with strong public support, leading to the regime’s collapse. Bashar al-Assad fled the capital, marking the end of the Ba’ath Party’s 61-year rule.

Meanwhile, the Syrian National Army launched its “Dawn of Freedom Operation” in December, liberating Tel Rifaat from PKK/YPG control on the first day. The operation also saw the successful liberation of Manbij, dismantling the largest PKK/YPG stronghold west of the Euphrates River.