Germany has reactivated its Damascus Embassy, which was closed in 2012 due to the civil war, after a 13-year hiatus.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made her second visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, following the fall of the Assad regime.

Minister Baerbock reopened Germany’s Embassy in Damascus, which had been closed in 2012 after the start of the civil war in the country.

Germany’s Special Envoy to Syria, Stefan Schnecke, confirmed the official reopening of the embassy in a social media post, expressing, “We are pleased to work closely with all Syrians for a better Syria.”

Schnecke mentioned that the embassy currently has a limited staff, so visa and consular services will continue to be handled from Beirut.