ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq  - Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday met with Syria’s de facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa and his counterpart Asaad al-Shaibani at the presidential palace in Damascus, pledging support to the new Damascus administration across various sectors.

“I met the new Syrian political leader, Ahmed al Sharaa. From today we are starting a new course of political, diplomatic and friendship relations,” between Damascus and Rome, Tajani wrote in a post on X.

 Tajani said the Italian government is “ready to support the economic and social recovery of a Mediterranean country rich in history and ties with Italy.”

A lightning rebel offensive spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Sharaa, brought a five-decade-long rule of the Assad family to an end on December 8, in a matter of 11 days.  Soon after Assad’s ouster, Damascus became a hotspot for diplomats’ visits worldwide, with France and Germany already sending top-level delegations.

In a press conference with his Syrian counterpart Shaibani, Tajani said international sanctions will have to be removed on Syria, as the previous regime has collapsed and "it does not have to remain in place." 

Tajani arrived in Damascus on Friday, a day after hosting talks with European counterparts and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome, where Tajani said they were seeking a "stable and united Syria".

 Upon his arrival in Damascus, the top Italian diplomat toured the landmark Umayyad mosque in the capital city, marking the first trip by the European country. 

The Italian minister said he had plans to announce an initial development aid package for Syria.