Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab hosted an Austrian delegation in Damascus to address migration and the voluntary return of Syrian asylum seekers. The talks focused on enhancing cooperation in border management, sharing expertise in asylum procedures, and coordinating humanitarian policies between Syria and Austria. Both sides discussed ways to facilitate the voluntary return of Syrians currently seeking asylum in Austria, while aiming to bolster security and stability in their respective countries. Syrians have become the largest group of asylum seekers in Austria, with nearly thirteen thousand applications recorded as of November 2024.