Syria, Qatar security officials meet in Damascus

Syria's Interior Minister Anas Khattab held talks with a delegation of Qatari security officials in Damascus on Monday.

"The two sides discussed ways to strengthen security and police cooperation and exchange expertise," the ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

Among the delegation were senior officials in Qatar's Internal Security Forces, known as Lekhwiya.

The ministry didn't provide further details about the meeting.

The talks came a few days after Syria's interim president Ahmed Al-Sharaa travelled to Doha to meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Qatar has been one of the Syrian government's biggest foreign backers since Islamist rebels overthrew the Assad regime in December.

The Gulf state has pursued stronger economic and commercial ties with the new authorities, and has taken the lead internationally in trying to support the country's war-stricken economy.

It is also providing diplomatic backing on the world stage, with officials pressing for a relaxation of Western sanctions and attempting to mend ties between Damascus and Russia, which were close allies of the Assad regime.

The emir was the first foreign head of state to meet Al-Sharaa, visiting the Syrian capital in January.

"The fraternal relations between our two brotherly countries are witnessing significant development and growth," he wrote on X following Al-Sharaa's visit to Doha last week.