ANKARA, May 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Syria's interim leader met with Turkey's president in Istanbul on Saturday, in an unannounced visit amid efforts by the new rulers in Damascus to rebuild the war-torn country.

Ankara is a firm supporter of Syria's new Islamist authorities, who toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December and are seeking to roll back sanctions and rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy after almost 14 years of civil war.

On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Syria's interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul, according to Anadolu state news agency.

The two leaders were seen greeting each other outside Erdogan's office, ahead of a meeting that private Turkish news channel NTV said lasted more than two and a half hours.

The Syrian delegation included its foreign and defence ministers and would "discuss a number of common issues" with the Turkish side, the Syrian presidency said on Telegram.

Turkey's foreign and defence ministers, its intelligence chief and the head of the state defence industry agency also took part, according to Anadolu.

Since Assad's ouster, the new administration has been looking to build relations with the West and roll back sanctions, but some governments had expressed reluctance, pointing to the Islamist past of leading figures.

The US and the EU have announced the lifting of sanctions earlier this month.

Both Erdogan and Sharaa have expressed their determination to work together to combat terror threats in Syria. 

Ankara has called for the expulsion of foreign Kurdish fighters from northeastern Syria and has said it wants to help its neighbour fight jihadists.