Damascus, January 29 (QNA) - Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab discussed security cooperation on Thursday with an official Austrian delegation, which included Ambassador Arad Benko, Austria's special envoy to the Middle East, who is visiting Damascus.

The two sides also discussed immigration issues, the regulation of asylum procedures and the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, and the exchange of experiences in the areas of border management, especially since Syrian refugees around the world began their journey back to their country with the fall of the previous regime at the end of 2024.

The number of Syrian refugees in Austria is approximately 105,000 as of the beginning of 2025, making them one of the largest refugee and migrant groups in the country. Around 63,000 of them live in Vienna, according to Austrian government statistics. (QNA)