The visit of the Saudi Ambassador to Iraq, Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, to Karbala province yesterday, Monday, was met with extensive official and public welcoming, as it is the first visit by a Saudi ambassador to the province that houses the shrine of Imam Hussein bin Ali and his brother Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas, which is a destination millions visit annually. Ambassador Al-Shammari was received by Karbala Governor Nasif Khattabi and members of the provincial council, where he held a meeting with them. In a video shared by various Iraqi news outlets, the ambassador praised the city and its details, asserting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's eagerness to strengthen relations with the Republic of Iraq.
An Iraqi source confirmed that "the visit created a wide positive atmosphere and is a step in the context of the openness practiced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards various Iraqis, contributing to bridging perspectives." In the same context, the source asserted that "the religious authority hopes that relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia will be better than they were in the past, as the minds managing the political scene are mature and working for the benefit of the region."
On another note, a source who accompanied the visit from its preparation stage considered that "the developing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq embarrass extremists, weaken their arguments, and contribute to reducing the influence of sectarian voices that do not want the relations between the two countries to progress," expressing hope that "this visit will be followed by practical steps in the future."
Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Shammari's visit to Karbala came after the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority announced on April 26th that direct flights would be operated from Dammam in the eastern Kingdom to Najaf, Iraq, starting June 1st. Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Shammari is expected to be among the first to welcome the initial flights arriving from Dammam to Najaf, which are anticipated to carry a group of Saudi visitors.
