Barran Press
The Internationally recognized government of Yemen officially reopened its embassy in Damascus, with a national flag-raising ceremony marking the resumption of diplomatic activities scheduled to begin on Sunday, April 27.
Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement that Ambassador Abdullah al-Daais, head of the Yemeni delegation, and Acting Chargé d'Affaires Counselor Mohammed Baakr jointly raised the Yemeni flag at the embassy premises.
The ceremony included the national anthem and speeches emphasizing the historical ties between Yemen and Syria and expressing optimism for enhanced cooperation.
Mohsen Mehbash, Director of the Arab Homeland Department at Syria’s Foreign Ministry, conveyed his pleasure at the reopening, underscoring the strong fraternal bonds between the two nations. He affirmed that the Syrian leadership has directed all relevant bodies to work towards strengthening bilateral relations.
Members of the Yemeni community in Damascus welcomed the embassy’s reopening, expressing hope for improved consular services after years of disruption.
The reopening followed an announcement by Yemen’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, stating that the embassy would officially resume operations under the leadership of Acting Chargé d'Affaires Counselor Mohammed Ezi Baakr. The Ministry emphasized that this move, directed by Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaea al-Zandani and Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani, represents a crucial diplomatic step in Yemen-Syria relations.
The embassy's return to operation marks a significant shift, particularly considering its previous seizure by the Iran-backed Houthi militia following their 2014 coup in Yemen. The Houthis' occupation of the embassy in Damascus, mirroring their actions in Tehran, had been condemned by Yemen's legitimate government as a violation of international law and contributed to a broader rupture in Arab relations with Damascus.
The situation shifted in October 2023 when the Yemeni government was officially informed that Syrian authorities had agreed to return the embassy premises after expelling the Houthi representative. This move was part of a broader effort by the Assad regime to normalize ties with Arab states.
Following the capture of Damascus by Syrian opposition factions on December 8, 2023, which ended the Assad regime's long-standing rule, several Arab and foreign nations, whose relations had deteriorated during Assad's tenure, announced their intentions to reopen their embassies in the Syrian capital. Yemen's resumption of embassy operations signifies a renewed diplomatic engagement in the evolving political landscape of Syria.