Germany has reopened its embassy in Damascus, 13 years after closing it during the early stages of Syria's civil war, as Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Europe needs "eyes and ears" on the ground during Syria's political transition, SANA reported on March 20.

"With this embassy opening, we are saying very clearly that Germany is back in Damascus. Germany has a paramount interest in a stable Syria," Baerbock said during a press conference in the Syrian capital.

The German foreign minister met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani during her second visit to Damascus since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in December.

The embassy will initially operate with a small team supported by colleagues based in neighbouring Lebanon and will be led by a chargé d'affaires, offering no consular or visa services for now. "Whether there will in the future be an ambassador again depends on further political and, of course, security developments here," Baerbock added.

Germany has pledged €300mn ($324mn) to support economic stability in Syria as part of commitments made at the Brussels Conference, according to the German minister.

Baerbock's visit follows recent clashes between fighters loyal to Assad and forces of the country's new rulers that resulted in around 1,500 deaths, primarily among Assad's Alawite and Armenian minority communities.

"We emphasised that it's now up to them to hold those responsible to account," she said regarding her discussions with the transitional government.

The German minister praised the recent agreement between the interim government and the Kurdish-led authority controlling Syria's northeast, stressing that other groups must also be included so they can feel "part of a new Syria."

Baerbock also addressed regional concerns, stating that "Iran is one of the main parties violating Syrian sovereignty and is involved in recent events in the coastal region," while adding that "Israel must respect international law and not attack neighbouring countries."

Among EU members, Italy reopened its embassy last year before Assad's fall, while Spain reopened its mission after his ouster.

On refugee returns, Baerbock cautioned that if all Syrian refugees attempted to return simultaneously, "Syria would collapse," advocating instead "a step-by-step approach, especially starting with the direct neighbouring countries," AP reported.