Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a surprise meeting on Saturday with Syrian transitional leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who made an unannounced visit to Istanbul, according to Turkish media reports.

The state-run TRT Haber published images of the meeting, which took place at the historic Dolmabahce Palace. The talks mark a significant step in ongoing Syrian-Turkish talks in Istanbul, signaling a potential warming in bilateral ties.

Present at the meeting were Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) chief Ibrahim Kalin. On the Syrian side, interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also took part in the talks, the report noted.

Key issues discussed during Erdogan-Sharaa meeting

The discussions reportedly covered a range of sensitive topics, reflecting efforts toward Turkey-Syria normalization. These included the lifting of Western-imposed sanctions on Damascus, the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, and the security situation involving terrorists detained in Syrian prisons.

The return of Syrian refugees was also a central topic, with both sides exploring options for cooperation on repatriation and reintegration.

Read more: 'Israel' needs to adapt to Turkey’s influence in Syria: Israeli media

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Erdogan also stressed during the talks that “Israel’s occupation and aggression in Syrian territory is unacceptable,” adding that Turkey will continue to oppose it “on every platform.”

Recent Turkish-Syrian diplomatic engagements

The Istanbul meeting followed a visit earlier in the week by Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin to Damascus, where he held talks with al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister al-Shaibani, and Syrian intelligence chief Hussein al-Salama. That meeting served as a precursor to the latest round of high-level dialogue.

Ahmad al-Sharaa had also visited Turkey in April to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, signaling a gradual but notable revival of official interaction between Ankara and Damascus.

Damascus, Ankara ink energy deal to supply gas, boost electricity

On Thursday, Syrian Interim Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir and Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar signed a wide-ranging energy cooperation agreement, marking a significant development in bilateral economic relations focused on energy infrastructure and supply.

During a joint press conference in Damascus, al-Bashir stated that the agreement includes a protocol and general framework for coordination in various energy sectors, namely oil, natural gas, minerals, and electricity. The deal also covers joint scientific research and the exchange of technical expertise.

One of the key projects highlighted is the completion of a natural gas pipeline connecting Kilis in southern Turkey to Aleppo in northern Syria. The gas flow is scheduled to begin in June 2025, with Turkey set to supply up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas annually, expected to help generate approximately 1,300 megawatts of electricity.

The agreement also includes the finalization of a 400-kilovolt transmission line to link the Turkish and Syrian power grids, which is projected to support the import of up to 500 megawatts of electricity by early next year. A separate power line connecting Reyhanlı to Harem is under construction, with a substation expected to become operational by September.

Read more: Erdogan, al-Sharaa hold historic Syria-Turkiye talks