Türkiye’s military attaché takes post in Damascus as embassy resumes operations

Colonel Hasan Göz has officially assumed his duties as the Turkish military attaché at the Turkish Embassy in Damascus, marking a significant step in Türkiye-Syria relations.

The announcement was made through the official account of the Turkish Embassy in Damascus on the social media platform X, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media.

According to the statement, Göz has taken up his role as the military attaché, reaffirming Türkiye’s active engagement in defence cooperation with Syria.

“Our cooperation with brotherly Syria in the military field continues to be active,” the embassy’s post emphasized.

This development comes after Türkiye reopened its embassy in Syria on December 14, 2024, following a 12-year hiatus. The diplomatic mission had been closed due to deep political disagreements over the resolution of the intra-Syrian conflict.

Since 2012, numerous countries, including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy, Poland, Greece, Brazil, and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, have also closed their embassies in Syria due to the ongoing conflict.

The situation in Syria underwent a dramatic shift in late 2024. On November 27, opposition forces clashed with Bashar al-Assad’s regime troops in western Aleppo. Soon after, on December 8, they seized control of the capital, Damascus, bringing an end to the 61-year rule of the Baathist regime.

That same day, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had resigned after negotiations with the opposition. He subsequently left the country, reportedly ensuring arrangements for a peaceful transition of power.

This new phase in Syria’s political landscape has prompted renewed diplomatic and military engagements, including Türkiye’s recent steps to restore its presence in the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova