Saudi foreign minister meets Assad in Damascus

This is the first visit of a high-ranking diplomat from Saudi Arabia to Damascus since ties were broken off in 2011, following the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on protesters, which led to a prolonged civil war.

The meeting focused on the necessary steps towards a political solution to the Syrian conflict, preserving its Arab identity, and restoring its ties with the Arab world.

Although the statements made no mention of the upcoming Arab League summit to be hosted by Riyadh next month, the meeting was seen as a sign of wider rapprochement in the region.

The Gulf Arab foreign ministers and their counterparts from Egypt, Iraq and Jordan had discussed Syria's possible return to the Arab League, but no agreement was reached.

While some countries have mended ties with Damascus, others remain opposed to normalizing relations without a political solution to the conflict. (ILKHA)