UK restores diplomatic ties with Syria

The UK has re-established diplomatic ties with Syria, David Lammy has said, arsenic helium made the archetypal sojourn to the state by a British curate for 14 years.

The overseas caput visited Damascus and met with interim president Ahmed al Sharaa, besides the person of the rebel radical Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and overseas curate Asaad al Shaibani.

It marks the latest diplomatic determination since Bashar al Assad's authorities was toppled by rebel groups led by HTS successful December.

In a statement, Mr Lammy said a "stable Syria is successful the UK's interests" and added: "I've seen first-hand the singular advancement Syrians person made successful rebuilding their lives and their country.

"After implicit a decennary of conflict, determination is renewed anticipation for the Syrian people.

"The UK is re-establishing diplomatic relations due to the fact that it is successful our interests to enactment the caller authorities to present their committedness to physique a stable, much unafraid and prosperous aboriginal for each Syrians."

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has besides announced a £94.5m enactment bundle for urgent humanitarian assistance and to enactment the country's semipermanent recovery, aft a fig of British sanctions against the state were lifted successful April.

While HTS is inactive classified arsenic a proscribed panic group, Sir Keir Starmer said past twelvemonth that it could beryllium removed from the list.

The Syrian president's bureau besides said connected Saturday that the president and Mr Lammy discussed co-operation, arsenic good arsenic the latest developments successful the Middle East.

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Since Assad fled Syria successful December, a transitional government headed by Mr al Sharaa was announced successful March and a fig of occidental countries person restored ties.

In May, US President Donald Trump said the United States would assistance long-standing sanctions connected Syria and normalise relations during a code astatine the US-Saudi concern conference.

He said helium wanted to springiness the state "a accidental astatine peace" and added: "There is simply a caller authorities that volition hopefully succeed.

"I accidental bully luck, Syria. Show america thing special."