Syrian President Concludes Short Visit to Oman

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman February 20, 2023. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman February 20, 2023. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)
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Syrian President Concludes Short Visit to Oman

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman February 20, 2023. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, in Muscat, Oman February 20, 2023. (Syrian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad concluded on Monday a short visit to Oman where he met Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at the Bait al-Baraka Royal Palace, said the Omani Foreign Ministry.

The Ministry said Sultan Haitham renewed his condolences and sincere sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye on Feb. 6.

It added that the Sultan assured Assad that Oman would continue to support Syria as it grapples with the aftermath of the earthquake.

Assad thanked the Sultan, the government, and the Omani people for their solidarity and support with Syria, lauding Omani relief efforts that helped in mitigating the impact of the earthquake.

The Ministry said the officials reviewed the bilateral relations and cooperation in all fields. They also addressed regional and international developments and efforts to consolidate security and stability in the region and world.

Later, Sultan Haitham and Assad held closed-door talks.

Oman is the only Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country that has not severed its diplomatic and political ties with Damascus after the eruption of the Syrian conflict in 2011.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain recently reopened their embassies in Damascus after they had been closed since 2012.

In May 2021, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited Oman on his first visit to an Arab and Gulf country since assuming his position. In July 2019, former Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi visited Damascus, the second since the eruption of the conflict in 2011.



Trump Hails Success of Riyadh Summit, Says May Meet Putin this Month 

A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)
A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)
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Trump Hails Success of Riyadh Summit, Says May Meet Putin this Month 

A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)
A handout photo made available by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service shows Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov (2-R) attending a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2-L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (3-L) and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abduallah and Saudi National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 18 February 2025. (EPA / Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service)

US President Donald Trump hailed on Tuesday the "very good" talks that were held between the United States and Russia in Riyadh.

He added that he may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month.

"Probably," he said as he ended a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach when asked if he still expected to meet with Putin before the end of the month.

Trump spoke for the first time since a US delegation established a working dialogue with Russia about Ukraine during talks in Riyadh earlier in the day.

He brushed aside Ukraine's concern about being left out of the meeting, saying Kyiv could have made a deal with Russia three years ago to avert the invasion by Moscow.

"Today I heard, 'oh, we weren't invited.' Well you've been there for three years, you should have ended it... you should have never started it. You could have made a deal," he remarked.

"I think I have the power to end this war," stressed Trump.

Trump said he would not oppose Europeans if they want to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.

European leaders have discussed sending peacekeepers to provide security guarantees in the event of a peace deal.

"Having troops over there would be fine, I wouldn't object to it at all," Trump said.