ISTANBUL

Qatar’s defense minister discussed shared issues and regional and international developments in a phone call on Sunday with his Syrian counterpart, Qatari media reported.

Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke by phone with Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra to discuss “matters of mutual interest between the two sides, as well as the latest developments on the regional and international fronts,” the state news agency QNA said.

Earlier this month, Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025, where they discussed regional and international issues of common concern.

Syria’s new administration has been seeking to end Damascus’ international isolation following the policies of the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad and to strengthen relations with Arab, Islamic and Western countries.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration headed by Sharaa was formed in January.