French president travels to Syria

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday in the first visit by a European leader to Syria since the collapse of the previous government. The visit aims to assess the process of reconstructing the ruins of thirteen years of conflict and to engage with the new government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa. This trip marks the first presence of a European Union leader in Syria's capital following the overthrow of Bashar Assad in 2024 and the first visit by a French president to the country in approximately 18 years. The visit underscores a fundamental geopolitical shift in Syria's regional positioning during al-Sharaa's rule. The new Syrian leader, who previously served as a senior commander in al-Qaeda, has established close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers while attempting to rebuild a country fractured by 13 years of civil war—powers that had previously rejected the Assad government. Upon arriving in Damascus, Macron wrote on the social media platform X that he traveled to the country to emphasize France's commitment to the Syrian people and to support an independent, unified Syria with diversity and peace with its neighbors. He called on Damascus officials to turn a new page of stability and peace together. Asaad al-Shaibani, Syria's foreign minister, welcomed French officials at Damascus Airport. One official from the Elysée Palace at a prior press briefing...

# «Shargh» Reports: Macron's Historic Trip to Syria