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Blinken Set to Visit Ankara to Discuss Situation in Syria

Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Türkiye, at the Oncupinar border gate, near the town of Kilis, southern Türkiye, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Türkiye, at the Oncupinar border gate, near the town of Kilis, southern Türkiye, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
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Blinken Set to Visit Ankara to Discuss Situation in Syria

Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Türkiye, at the Oncupinar border gate, near the town of Kilis, southern Türkiye, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Türkiye, at the Oncupinar border gate, near the town of Kilis, southern Türkiye, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Ankara on Friday to discuss the situation in Syria after the ouster of its President Bashar Assad in a lightning offensive by opposition factions.
Blinken is set to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, a Turkish official said.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Syria should be governed by its people, following the ousting of Assad's regime, the Turkish Anadolu Agency reported.
The Turkish president made these remarks during a phone call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, a press release from the Turkish presidency's communications office said.
Erdogan emphasized during the call that "Türkiye will do its utmost to contribute to building a Syria free from terrorism”. He added that Türkiye has defended Syria's territorial integrity and stability since the beginning of the civil war in 2011," German news agency DPA said.

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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)

Syria has imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon told AFP on Friday, following what the Lebanese army said was a border skirmish with armed Syrians.

The developments appeared to be the first instance of diplomatic friction between the two neighbours since opposition factions topped longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month.

Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID.

But a Lebanese General Security official told AFP Friday that they were "surprised to see the border had been closed" to Lebanese citizens "from the Syrian side".

The official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said that no new border measures had been communicated to them yet.

A security source at Masnaa, the main land border crossing between the two countries, said Syrian authorities had implemented "new procedures" since last night, only allowing in Lebanese with residency permits or official permission.

The Lebanese army said in a statement on X that its soldiers and Syrians had clashed at the border as the armed forces tried to "close an illegal crossing".

"Syrians attempted to open the crossing using a bulldozer, so army personnel fired warning shots into the air. The Syrians opened fire on army personnel, injuring one of them and provoking a clash".

"Army units deployed in the sector have taken strict military measures," the statement added.

Earlier, a Lebanese military official had said Syria's move followed "skirmishes between the Lebanese army and Syrian armed men at the border" who were briefly detained by the army.