President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (Photo: VNA)

In a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Von der Leyen warned that the threat of IS re-emerging is very real, insisting, "We cannot allow this to happen." She said the European Union will step up direct discussions with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group currently in control of central Syria, as well as with other factions.

President Erdogan agreed that an inclusive government needs to be established in Syria, and said he hopes the EU will support the return of Syrian citizens to their homeland after 13 years of conflict.

On Tuesday, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that its embassy in Syria will reopen once the "necessary conditions" are met. Last week gunmen stormed the Iranian embassy in Damascus, ransacking offices, seizing documents, and causing significant damage to the premises.