ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Foreign ministers from several countries including Iraq and Turkey, along with UN and EU officials are set to attend a meeting on Sunday in Riyadh, discussing the latest developments and transition in Syria.

The main agenda of the meeting is the security and stability of Syria, Turkish state media Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday.

The meeting is a continuation of a meeting that took place in Aqaba, Jordan on December 14, 2024.

Diplomatic representatives of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, the UK, Germany, US, and Italy are all expected to attend the Sunday meeting.

In addition, the high representative for Foreign Affair and Security Policy of the European Union (EU), the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Secretary General of the Arab League, and the UN Secretary General’s representative for Syria affairs are also expected to be present.

No representative of Iran is reported to be attending the Sunday meeting.

Iran was a key supporter of the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad and while several regional powers have worked on establishing ties with the new government in Syria, Tehran has remained on the fence.

A lightning rebel offensive spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-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 from across the globe.

The new administration in Damascus has repeatedly called on the international community, notably the US, to lift sanctions on the country to allow millions of Syrians to return home, and for the country's economy to recover.

The key sanctions include; infrastructure investments, arms and military equipment, travel, and financial flows for individuals associated with the previous Syrian government.