Turkey’s intel chief in Damascus, set to meet Syria’s transition, HTS leaders

ANKARA — Ibrahim Kalin, director of Turkey’s National Intelligence Directorate, traveled to Damascus on Thursday just hours before US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduled to arrive for meetings to Ankara. 

During the first high-level visit from Turkey to Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime over the weekend, Kalin was due to meet with insurgent Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, as well as the head of Syria’s transitional government, Mohammad al-Bashir, according to the Syrian Information Ministry.

Videos circulating on social media showed the Turkish intelligence chief leaving the Umayyad Mosque in central Damascus earlier on Thursday.

Turkey is the main backer of the armed opposition groups that joined the Golani-led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the latest offensive that led to the demise of the Assad government. Turkish intelligence playing a key role in coordination with rebel groups.

Turkey, which has emerged as an influential foreign actor in Syria’s transition period, is urging unity among various Syrian rebel groups and stressing the need to maintain Syria’s territorial integrity.

Kalin’s visit to Damascus highlights Turkey’s intention to be actively involved in shaping the future of Syria.

Following the visit, operations at Turkey’s embassy in Damascus are set to resume for the first time since 2012 after a new charge d’affaires was appointed in a bid to revive diplomatic ties. Ankara and Damascus broke ties over a decade ago amid tensions surrounding Turkish support to the rebel groups fighting against Assad.

Burhan Koroglu, Turkey’s former ambassador to Mauritania, was appointed as temporary charge d’affaires in Damascus, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu News Agency reported.

Ankara’s role in Syria will likely top the agenda of the talks of Blinken, who arrived in Ankara later Thursday and met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, on Friday.

Kalin’s visit came as Syria’s new government spokesman said on Thursday the country’s constitution and parliament would be suspended for the duration of the three-month transition period following president Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, AFP reported.

“A judicial and human rights committee will be established to examine the constitution and then introduce amendments,” Obaida Arnaout said. Syria’s constitution dates back to 2012.

Update: Dec. 12, 2024. This article has been updated to include Blinken’s arrival to Ankara as well as the appointment of a charge d’affaires.