Saudi Arabia Opens Consulate in Baghdad

The opening of the Saudi consulate in Baghdad. SPA
The opening of the Saudi consulate in Baghdad. SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia Opens Consulate in Baghdad

The opening of the Saudi consulate in Baghdad. SPA
The opening of the Saudi consulate in Baghdad. SPA

The Saudi consulate in Baghdad opened on Thursday in the presence of the heads of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment Dr. Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi and Iraqi Deputy Premier for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil Thamir al-Ghadhban.

On the occasion, the Saudi flag was raised on the consulate building.

Senior Iraqi officials and members of the Coordination Council attended the ceremony.

Earlier, Qasabi said during a joint press conference with Ghadhban that efforts are being exerted to open three more consulates in Iraqi cities.

He added that there are “13 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the Saudi and Iraqi sides in all fields, which are in their final stages, and that will have a significant impact on raising the level of cooperation between the two countries.”



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.”