Saudi foreign minister meets Syrian counterpart in Riyadh

RIYADH

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Syria held talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

The discussions between Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Faisal Mekdad also dwelt on various issues of mutual concern, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

Saudi Arabia and Syria restored their diplomatic relations last year after a hiatus of 11 years following the country’s civil war in 2011.

In May 2023, the Cairo-based Arab League readmitted Syria after more than a decade of suspension.

Syria fell into civil war in 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.

Hundreds of thousands of victims have since been killed and millions displaced, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul