NNA - A French delegation arrived Tuesday at the country's embassy in Damascus, the first visit of diplomats from France since Bashar al-Assad's ouster by Islamist-led rebels.

Visiting French special envoy for Syria Jean-Francois Guillaume said his country was preparing to stand with Syrians during the transitional period.

"France is preparing to be with Syrians" during the transitional period "which we hope will be peaceful", Guillaume told journalists, adding that his delegation had come to "make contact with the de facto authorities in Damascus", while an AFP journalist saw the French flag raised in the embassy's entrance hall for the first time since the mission was shuttered in 2012.

The United Nations humanitarian chief also met Tuesday in Damascus with Syria's new leaders, saying there was a "basis for ambitious scaling-up of vital humanitarian support".

"Moment of cautious hope in Syria," Tom Fletcher said on X after meeting Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who now uses his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa and who heads Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the lightning offensive that ousted president Bashar al-Assad.--AFP

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