Saudi Crown Prince meets Syria's President Al Shara in Riyadh

On Tuesday, Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, according to Saudi and Syrian state media. The Saudi Press Agency released footage and images of the meeting, but did not provide specific details. Mr Al Shara was accompanied by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani and was initially greeted by Riyadh region governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar, as reported by Syria's Sana news agency.

The visit occurred amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia announced that airports in Jizan and Najran had been attacked, resulting in injuries to three people and causing limited damage. These attacks came as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched a major offensive to reclaim territory from the Houthis after weeks of rebel gains. The kingdom intensified its strikes in support of the campaign.

Mr Al Shara and Prince Mohammed discussed the latest regional developments and other matters of mutual interest during their meeting, aiming to promote security and stability in the area, as reported by Sana. The Syrian President had previously visited Saudi Arabia in April of the same year, where they also met in Jeddah. Their discussions then focused on region-wide developments, efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, and economic and investment ties, as well as regional connectivity projects.

Saudi Arabia has been a significant investor in Syria since Mr Al Shara assumed power in 2024 following a rebel-led offensive that removed the regime of former President Bashar Al Assad.