Syria, Egypt FMs Discuss Regional Peace

Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
TT

Syria, Egypt FMs Discuss Regional Peace

Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, speaks during a press conference in Damascus, Syria, December 30, 2024. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, appointed by the new rulers, said on social media on Tuesday that he had received a phone call from his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, in which they discussed the importance of both countries in bringing peace to the region.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Abdelatty stressed his country's support for the Syrian people and its legitimate aspirations, calling on all parties to "preserve Syria's national institutions, its unity and sovereignty."

Egypt's top diplomat also emphasized the importance that "the political process adopts an inclusive approach" for all Syrian national parties, reflecting the societal, religious, sectarian and ethnic diversity within Syria.

Both ministers agreed to stay in contact.



More Than 50,000 Refugees Return to Syria from Türkiye

A boy cycles past buildings which were damaged during the war between opposition forces and the Assad regime, in the town of Harasta, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A boy cycles past buildings which were damaged during the war between opposition forces and the Assad regime, in the town of Harasta, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
TT

More Than 50,000 Refugees Return to Syria from Türkiye

A boy cycles past buildings which were damaged during the war between opposition forces and the Assad regime, in the town of Harasta, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A boy cycles past buildings which were damaged during the war between opposition forces and the Assad regime, in the town of Harasta, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Türkiye’s Interior Affairs Minister said Thursday that a total of 52,622 refugees have returned to Syria from Türkiye in the first month following Bashar Assad’s removal from power on Dec. 8.
Speaking at the Cilvegozu border crossing between Türkiye and Syria on Thursday, Ali Yerlikaya said that more than 40,000 Syrians had returned with family members while some 11,000 individuals crossed into Syria alone.
“The voluntary, safe, honorable and regular returns have started to increase,” Yerlikaya said.
Türkiye has hosted the largest number of Syrian refugees since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011 — more than 3.8 million at its peak in 2022.