Syria has reopened its London embassy, marking another major step in its diplomatic reintegration since the fall of former leader Barshar al-Assad last year.
Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani presided over a ceremony at the central London embassy on Thursday, November 14th, raising the national flag and, according to the Syrian foreign ministry
signalling the resumption of its activity after a 14-year closure.
Photos shared by al-Shaibani show him greeting supporters waving Syrian flags from the embassy balcony. He later posted on X, formerly Twitter
After years of isolation imposed by the chemical [sic] Assad regime, we are today reopening the Syrian embassy in London. Syria returns to the world with its free identity.
UK Special Representative for Syria Ann Snow also hailed the reopening as “a historic moment.”
During his London visit, al-Shaibani met UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss what the Syrian foreign ministry described as rebuilding bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in security, regional stability and economic ties. Since Assad’s overthrow in December 2024, Syria–—led by former Jihadist interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa—has moved quickly to restore diplomatic ties across the world.
The reopening is the latest example of Damascus’s growing efforts to rebuild its diplomatic presence after years of international isolation under the Assad regime. Earlier this week, Sharaa met U.S. president Donald Trump at the White House.
Then-UK foreign secretary David Lammy met Sharaa in Damascus in July, announcing the restoration of diplomatic ties more than a decade after they were severed.
