The presidents of Syria and Lebanon arrived in Qatar on separate visits Tuesday, the first official trips by both leaders to the wealthy Gulf state since taking office.

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha, the Qatari leader's office said in a statement.

Qatar has been a key backer of the new administration in Damascus after longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December.

The talks between the Qatari and Syrian leaders "covered the most prominent regional and international developments, and an exchange of views on ways to enhance security and stability", Shiekh Tamim's office said.

Earlier, Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani posted on X that he was accompanying Sharaa on his "first presidential visit to the country that has stood by Syrians from day one and has never abandoned........

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