DAMASCUS: Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrived in Syria on Friday, his first visit to Damascus since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad last month.
During the visit, the foreign minister is scheduled to meet with the Leader of the New Syrian Administration, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Earlier this month Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani visited Saudi Arabia and held important meetings with Saudi leadership.
Al-Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group, spearheaded an 11-day offensive that led to the ouster of Bashar al-Assad ending the family’s five-decade rule.
Last month, a high-ranking Saudi delegation headed by an advisor to the Royal Court visited Syria and met with Al-Sharaa in Damascus.
Syria’s new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has said Saudi Arabia has a major role to play in the future of his country. “Saudi Arabia has a major role in Syria’s future, and I take pride in everything it has done for us,” he said during an interview with Al Arabiya.
Saudi Arabia has also launched a humanitarian air bridge to Syria to deliver food, shelter, and medical supplies. The air bridge, established by the Saudi aid agency, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), aims to alleviate the difficulties faced by the people of Syria.
The Saudi Cabinet during a meeting also emphasised that Syria must be free from terrorism and any aggression against its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The meeting reiterated Saudi Arabia’s call upon the international community to fulfill its responsibility in stopping Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and norms.
The Saudi Cabinet stressed the significance of respecting state sovereignty and territorial integrity to prevent further escalation of regional crises and to support efforts toward achieving a just and comprehensive peace.