Iranian Embassy Stormed in Damascus

Syrian and Lebanese people celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8, 2024, in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. (AFP)
Syrian and Lebanese people celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8, 2024, in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. (AFP)
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Iranian Embassy Stormed in Damascus

Syrian and Lebanese people celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8, 2024, in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. (AFP)
Syrian and Lebanese people celebrate the fall of the Syrian regime on December 8, 2024, in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. (AFP)

Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital was stormed by unknown gunmen on Sunday following the capture of Damascus by Syrian opposition fighters and the fall of Iran-allied Bashar al-Assad, Iranian state TV reported.

"It is said that the Iranian embassy was stormed alongside nearby stores by an armed group different from the group now controlling [most of] Syria," Iranian state TV said, referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which spearheaded the opposition advances across western Syria.

Arab and Iranian media have shared footage from inside the embassy's premises, where assailants rummaged through furniture and documents inside the building and damaged some windows.

Reuters could not verify the videos.

On Saturday, Iran said it was pulling out embassy families but denied a report by the New York Times that it was pulling out military personnel.

On the same day, Iran's ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari spoke to state TV to say the embassy was still open with five to six diplomats and was carrying out high-level meetings to follow-up with the overall situation.

Iran's state TV said HTS had guaranteed there would be no disturbance to the Sayeda Zeinab and Sayeda Ruqqaya shrines in Damascus.



Mikati Heads to Syria at Sharaa’s Invitation

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (Reuters)
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (Reuters)
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Mikati Heads to Syria at Sharaa’s Invitation

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (Reuters)
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (Reuters)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati led a delegation on Saturday heading to Syria on a one-day visit to meet with the new Syrian leadership, the Central News Agency said.
The visit comes at the invitation of Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the head of the new Syrian administration.
The delegation includes caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Acting General Security chief Elias al-Baysari, Army Intelligence chief Brigadier General Tony Khawaji, and Deputy Director General of General Security Brigadier General Hassan Shukair.