ANKARA

The Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad reopened the Libyan Embassy in Damascus on Tuesday after an 8-year hiatus and handed it over to the "government" of east Libya-based renegade commander Khalifa Haftar.

The embassy was given to Haftar's government after the two signed a memorandum of understanding to reopen embassies, the official SANA news agency reported.

The Syrian regime has become the first to recognize Haftar's government, which does not have international recognition.

Notably, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, enjoys UN and international recognition.

Haftar launched an offensive to capture Tripoli from the internationally recognized government last April, which led to chaos and bloodshed but stalled on the outskirts of the city.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara