Saudi Foreign Minister Arrives in Syria Today in First Visit Since 2011

The Syrian Ministry of Information stated in a written memo to journalists that "Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will arrive in Damascus today, Tuesday, in his first visit since the outbreak of the war in Syria in 2011." This visit is a significant step toward ending the regional isolation that Syria has faced for a decade due to its handling of protests against President Bashar al-Assad. Two informed sources reported that "the two sides agreed to resume diplomatic relations." Last week, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad visited Saudi Arabia before the kingdom held a summit in Jeddah with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq to discuss the potential return of Syria to the Arab fold.