Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday met with Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, in a visit to Damascus, his first since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Al-Jolani took office as the head of the new Syrian administration after the rapid collapse of al-Assad's regime last year.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will meet Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday, two Lebanese sources said, becoming the first head of government to visit Syria's capital since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday morning started talks with Syria's interim president, Ahmed As Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, Italian foreign ministry sources said.

Italy is ready to play its part to promote a reform process in Syria and seeks to act as a bridge between the new Syria and the European Union, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a press conference in Damascus on Friday after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa,