French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has pledged support to Syria while on a joint visit with Germany's Annalena Baerbock to Damascus. "A few weeks ago, a new hope was created, the hope of a sovereign Syria,

All Syrian groups, including women and Kurds, must be involved in the country's transition if Damascus wants European support, Germany's foreign minister said after a closely-watched first meeting with the new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday.

In Damascus, French and German foreign ministers Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock called for a 'peaceful and rigorous' transition with de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The German and French foreign ministers are heading to Damascus to send what the German minister said is a clear signal that a “political new beginning” between Europe and Syria is possible.

Jean-Noel Barrot, his German counterpart are on visit to Damascus, marking first trip by European foreign ministers to Syria since fall of Assad regime - Anadolu Ajansı

France and Germany’s top diplomats will travel to Syria on Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced, and meet with the leader of rebel group HTS.

Western nations have been cautious in their approach to Syria’s de facto leadership, HTS, but are beginning to debate whether to remove the group’s terrorist designation.

Syria’s de facto leader extended a hand to France’s foreign minister, but not to Germany’s Baerbock. Women’s rights were a focus of the trip.

The foreign ministers from Germany and France arrived in Damascus on Friday morning for talks with the transitional government formed by the militant groups that drove former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad from the country.

Damascus international airport will restart commercial flights on Tuesday after halting them following the December 8 ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, Syrian aviation authorities announced Saturday.

The French and German foreign ministers are the most senior Western officials to visit Syria since longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels.