Syria's new interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Tuesday met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, where they discussed improved security ties and how to respond to Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria.
Sharra flew into Turkey from Saudi Arabia where he sought Riyadh's funding to rebuild Syria after a devastating 13-year civil war.
After meeting with Sharaa, Erdogan said, "I would like to express our satisfaction for the strong commitment my brother Ahmed al-Sharaa has shown in the fight against terrorism."
As leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS — long considered a terrorist group by U.S. officials — Sharaa led a campaign in December to wrest control of Damascus from ex-President Bashar al-Assad, whose flight to Russia ended more than a half-century of oppressive rule by Bashar and his late father, Hafez.
Turkey was a solid ally to the forces seeking to oust Assad, including Sharaa and HTS.
Among the topics discussed in Tuesday's meeting were the Syrian Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria, where U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been fighting Turkish-backed forces.
Turkey shares a 910-kilometer border with Syria and wants the SDF, which Turkey views as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers, disbanded and removed from border regions.
Syria's new rulers are reported to have called on SDF to relinquish their weapons.
In an Associated Press report, SDF commander Mazloun Abdi said he recently met with Sharaa in Damascus and that negotiations are underway with mediators to find answers regarding the future of Syrian Kurds.
In addition, Turkey has also called for the removal of Islamic State militants in Syria.
Erdogan said he told Sharaa that Turkey is "ready to provide the necessary support to Syria in the fight against all kinds of terrorism."
Also Tuesday, Syria's new leader invited Turkey's president to visit Syria "at the earliest opportunity."
Sharaa also thanked Turkey for taking in millions of Syrians who fled their homeland during the civil war. He said Syria would "never forget [Turkey's] historic stance."
"That significant support is still tangible through Turkey's ongoing efforts to ensure the success of the current leadership in Syria, politically and economically," Sharaa said.
Some information was provided from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
