Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani presided over a ceremony at the embassy in central London on 13/11, raising the national flag to mark the resumption of diplomatic operations after 14 years of closure.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani waves to the crowd from the balcony of his country's embassy in central London, UK, on 13/11. Photo: X/Asaad al-Shaibani

A photograph shared on Foreign Minister Shaibani's X account depicted him on the embassy balcony, waving to a crowd below, with some individuals holding Syrian flags.

Shaibani stated that after years of isolation, Syria "has returned to the world with its free identity".

Ann Snow, the UK's special envoy for Syria, also expressed support on X, writing: "Today I am proud to witness Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani raising the flag at the embassy in London, a historic moment".

The Syrian Foreign Ministry reported that during his London visit, Shaibani met with his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper. They discussed "prospects for developing relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen cooperation across various sectors".

The embassy's reopening in the UK underscores Syria's growing efforts to re-establish a global diplomatic presence, following years of international isolation under the former government of Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian flag flies outside its embassy in London, UK, on 14/11, one day after its reopening. Photo: AFP

Following the overthrow of Assad in December 2024, Syria, led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has moved swiftly to restore diplomatic relations globally.

Earlier this week, Sharaa met US President Donald Trump at the White House, an astonishing turning point for a man once listed by Washington as a terrorist.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group Sharaa previously led, was linked to al-Qaeda. However, since assuming power, he has pledged to disband all armed factions, including HTS, and re-establish ties with Western governments.

The UK delisted HTS as a terrorist organization in October, paving the way for renewed relations with Syria. In July, former UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met Sharaa in Damascus, announcing the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two nations after more than a decade.

By Vu Hoang (AFP)