The German and French foreign ministers are heading to Damascus to send what the German minister said is a clear signal that a “political new beginning" between Europe and Syria is possible. Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and France’s Jean-Noel Barrot are expected to meet the leader of the group that toppled Bashar Assad,

France’s top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot visited the French embassy in Damascus on Friday, in the first official visit by European Union countries since the fall of former President Bashar Assad.

The foreign ministers of Germany and France said they wanted to forge a new relationship with Syria and urged a peaceful transition as they met its de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Friday on behalf of the European Union.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot visited the notorious Saydnaya prison on Friday, during their visit to Syria. This is the first visit to Syria by top diplomats from European Union countries following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad by opposition rebels.