Saudi Arabia appoints new envoy to Syria, marking restoration of ties

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 May 2024 18:02

This appointment marks Saudi Arabia's first envoy to Damascus since it closed its embassy in 2012 after the outbreak of the war in 2011.

A Syrian national flag waves as vehicles move slowly on a bridge during rush hour, in Damascus, Syria, on Feb. 28, 2016. (AP)

Saudi Arabia has appointed Faisal Al-Mujfel as its new ambassador to Syria, the kingdom's state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.

This appointment marks Saudi Arabia's first envoy to Damascus since it closed its embassy in 2012 after the outbreak of the war on Syria.

The reopening of the Saudi embassy in Syria earlier this year signaled a significant shift in relations, with both nations working to restore diplomatic ties after more than a decade of hiatus.

Damascus had already reopened its embassy in Riyadh last year and appointed a new ambassador in December.

The re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Damascus represents the most notable step in the broader efforts by Arab states to normalize ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Western and Arab states had largely cut ties with Syria following the onset of the war in 2011, which was an integral part of that war.

In the years that followed, the country saw extensive damage to its economy, infrastructure, and overall development, accompanied by a massive outflow of refugees and sporadic terrorist attacks.

Syria gradually became less isolated as terror and separatist groups suffered heavy losses, retaining only pockets of influence, with separatist groups continuing to enjoy backing from US and Turkish occupation forces. Syria later re-entered the League of Arab States in May 2023 following years of diplomatic rapprochement.

The United States and Britain said they still opposed relations with the Syrian government but would nonetheless continue to work with Arab states that are re-establishing relations.