Thousands of pilgrims from areas controlled by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government are traveling directly to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj for the first time in over ten years, signaling Assad's gradual return to the Arab fold. Riyadh severed ties with Assad following the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011 and supported opposition figures, including providing thousands of Hajj visas to the Syrian opposition for distribution among Syrians in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. However, the kingdom restored relations with Assad last year and appointed its first ambassador to Syria in May since the severing of ties. Direct flights between the two countries have also resumed, allowing pilgrims to travel directly from Damascus to Jeddah to perform the pilgrimage.
Eighty-four-year-old pilgrim Barilinta from Damascus expressed her happiness and disbelief at the prospect of performing Hajj. While some Syrians living in government-controlled areas managed to perform Hajj in previous years through long flights that stopped in other countries, such lengthy journeys proved extremely challenging, especially for the elderly. Huda Abu Shaar shared her excitement upon hearing the news of the resumption of direct flights: "Honestly, when I heard this news, it was a huge joy for us; it was a great joy for all of Syria." Huda carefully packed her bag, including a note with a long list of prayers that her relatives had requested her to say for them in Mecca.
