All Syrian groups, including women and Kurds, must be involved in the country's transition if Damascus wants European support, Germany's foreign minister said after a closely-watched first meeting with the new de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday.

Germany's and France’s foreign ministers said Friday that they made clear to Syria’s new de facto Islamic leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, that the nation’s political transition should be inclusive and not based on Islamic fundamentalism if the country wants Europe’s support.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot visited the notorious Saydnaya prison on Friday, during their visit to Syria.