Syria’s interim President made his first journey overseas on Sunday (February 2, 2025), travelling to Saudi Arabia in a transfer probably making an attempt to sign Damascus’ shift away from Iran as its principal regional ally.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was as soon as aligned with al-Qaeda, landed in Riyadh alongside his authorities’s overseas minister, Asaad al-Shaibani. The 2 males travelled on a Saudi jet, with a Saudi flag seen on the desk behind them.
Saudi state tv trumpeted the truth that the primary journey by al-Sharaa, first recognized internationally by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made Riyadh his first vacation spot.
Syria’s new three-star, tricolour flag flew subsequent to Saudi Arabia’s personal on the airport as al-Sharaa in a swimsuit and tie walked off the airplane. He was scheduled to fulfill with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the dominion’s de facto ruler, on the journey.
Saudi Arabia had been among the many Arab nations that poured cash into rebel teams that attempted to topple former President Bashar Assad after Syria’s 2011 Arab Spring protests became a bloody crackdown. Nevertheless, its teams discovered themselves overwhelmed again as Assad, supported by Iran and Russia, fought the warfare right into a stalemate in Syria.
That modified with the December lightning offensive led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The group was as soon as affiliated with al-Qaida however has since denounced its former ties.
Al-Sharaa and HTS have rigorously managed their public picture within the time since, with the interim president favouring an olive-coloured army look just like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appointing ladies to roles and making an attempt to keep up ties to Syria’s Christian and Shiite Alawite populations.
That additionally consists of conserving each Iran and Russia largely at arms’ size as nicely. Iran has but to reopen its embassy in Damascus, which had been a key node in working operations by means of its self-described “Axis of Resistance,” together with Assad’s Syria, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and different companions. Russia in the meantime wish to preserve entry to air and sea bases it has in Syria, however took in Assad when he fled Syria throughout the advance.
These strikes seem geared toward reassuring the West and making an attempt to get crippling sanctions lifted on Syria. Rebuilding the nation after over a decade of warfare will probably value lots of of billions of {dollars}, to not point out masking the wants of Syria’s individuals, hundreds of thousands of whom stay impoverished.
Saudi Overseas Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Damascus in January and mentioned Riyadh has been “actively participating in dialogue” to elevate sanctions on Syria. Saudi Arabia, in contrast to Al-Sharaa’s key allies in Turkey and Qatar, restored ties with Assad in 2023 alongside many of the Arab world. Getting sanctions lifted might go a great distance in cementing their relationship.
In the meantime, Syria’s interim authorities nonetheless faces challenges from the Islamic State group and different militants within the nation. On Saturday, a automobile bomb exploded in Manbij, a metropolis in Syria’s Aleppo governorate, killing 4 civilians and wounding 9, SANA reported, citing civil protection officers.
Turkish-backed Syrian rebels had seized Manbij in December, a part of a push by Ankara to safe Syrian territory near its border for a buffer zone.
Revealed – February 02, 2025 03:33 pm IST
