Turkey reopened its embassy in Syria, becoming the first country to do so after Bashar al-Assad's rule ended. Diplomatic ties had been severed since 2012 due to the civil war. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed a desire for a stable, inclusive Syria and indicated that Syrian refugees in Turkey would return home as conditions improve. The reopening coincided with a meeting of diplomats from the US, Arab League, and Turkey to discuss Syria's transition.