By Hassen Djebril and Ikram Kouachi
ALGIERS, Algeria (AA) – Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf arrived in Damascus on Saturday, marking the first visit by an Algerian official to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad regime.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said Attaf is visiting the Syrian capital as a special envoy of Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
According to the ministry, the visit aims to strengthen relations between Algeria and Syria and explore ways to elevate bilateral ties to the highest possible level.
“The visit seeks to reaffirm Algeria’s solidarity with Syria during this critical period in its modern history,” it added.
During his stay in Damascus, Attaf is expected to meet with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to deliver a message from Tebboune.
Following Assad’s ouster, Algeria kept its embassy in Damascus open. The North African nation reiterated its long-standing foreign policy principle of “recognizing states, not governments,” a doctrine established by Algeria’s founding diplomats after gaining independence in 1962.
Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, ending the regime of the Baath Party, which had been in power since 1963.