Saudi Defense Minister Arrives in London on Official Visit

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Saudi Defense Minister Arrives in London on Official Visit

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and his accompanying delegation arrived in London on an official visit upon the directives of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

During the visit, the Defense Minister will meet with several British officials to discuss bilateral relations, and regional and international issues of common interest.



Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
TT

Syria’s Leader Meets with Bahraini Diplomatic Delegation

The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)
The leader of Syria's new administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani in Damascus, Syria, January 8, 2025. (Bahrain News Agency/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received a delegation from Bahrain on Wednesday and met with the Bahraini foreign minister, state media reported.

The visit was the latest in a flurry of diplomatic overtures by Arab countries to Syria’s new leaders after they overthrew former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive.

Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain had cut off diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad’s rule during the Syrian civil war, but it reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018 and gradually restored ties with the Assad government.

Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit, and days after Assad’s ouster it had sent a message to al-Sharaa offering its cooperation with the new authorities and saying, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.”