Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions with a Qatari delegation in Damascus Thursday included reconstruction in the war-torn country, during the first visit by a head of state since Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

Qatar has been actively seeking a sanctions exemption from Washington that would allow Doha to provide financial support through official channels.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani became the first head of state to visit Damascus since the ousting of Bashar Assad, arriving in

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim visited Damascus on Thursday with a delegation of officials where they held talks with Syrian officials on providing assistance with reconstruction after 13 years of civil war.