Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani visited Damascus on Thursday, the first visit by a head of state to the Syrian capital since the Dec. 8 fall of President Bashar al-Assad to an Islamist rebel offensive.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions with a Qatari delegation in Damascus Thursday included reconstruction in the war-torn country, during the first visit by a head of state since Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the first head of state to visit Damascus since the ousting of Bashar Assad, arriving in

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will visit Damascus on Thursday, Qatar's Al Jazeera reported, as Syria's new interim government begins a political transition after Islamist rebels ousted the Assad regime last year.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit first by an Arab leader since fall of Bashar al-Assad - Anadolu Ajansı

There has been growing engagement between Qatar and Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, with high-level visits taking place between both countries. Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin

Visit is 1st by Qatar’s emir to Syria in more than 14 years, 1st by head of state since Assad’s overthrow - Anadolu Ajansı

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim landed in Damascus on Thursday, Qatari state media reported. He is the first Arab head of state to visit Syria since the downfall of former president Bashar Al Assad last month.

Qatar has been actively seeking a sanctions exemption from Washington that would allow Doha to provide financial support through official channels.