(MENAFN) In a watershed moment for regional diplomacy, Türkiye has designated a new ambassador to Syria on Wednesday, ending more than a decade of severed diplomatic representation between the two neighboring nations.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a presidential decree appointing Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz as Türkiye’s envoy to Damascus, marking the first such nomination since Ankara shuttered its Syrian embassy on March 26, 2012. The announcement appeared in the country's Official Gazette.

The diplomatic breakthrough extends beyond Damascus. Turkish authorities have also restored consular operations in Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub and second-most populous city, after 13 years of closure.

Yilmaz brings extensive intelligence experience to the post, having worked within Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization from August 2013 through June 2023. He assumed his current role as deputy foreign minister on May 20, 2024.

The warming relations have triggered practical changes for civilians. Turkish Airlines reintroduced direct Istanbul-Damascus service earlier this year, ending a decade-long suspension. Beginning January 23, the carrier has maintained a thrice-weekly schedule operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

The rapprochement signals a dramatic shift in Türkiye’s Syria policy after years of diplomatic freeze.

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