Syrian foreign minister arrives in Saudi Arabia with delegation

A high-level Syrian delegation, led by newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday in its first official visit abroad, Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing a foreign ministry source.

According to Al Arabiya’s correspondent, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Walid al-Khuraiji welcomed the Syrian delegation, which included the Foreign Minister, the Defense Minister, and the Head of Intelligence, in Riyadh.

In a post on the X platform, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani announced that he received an invitation from his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, to visit Saudi Arabia, making it his first official foreign visit.

The delegation includes Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. The visit came less than a month since Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition groups on Dec. 8.