Saudi Arabia Officially Reopens its Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Charge d'Affaires Abdullah al-Haris speaks at the reopening of the embassy in Damascus. (Saudi Arabia's embassy in Damascus)
Saudi Charge d'Affaires Abdullah al-Haris speaks at the reopening of the embassy in Damascus. (Saudi Arabia's embassy in Damascus)
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Saudi Arabia Officially Reopens its Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Charge d'Affaires Abdullah al-Haris speaks at the reopening of the embassy in Damascus. (Saudi Arabia's embassy in Damascus)
Saudi Charge d'Affaires Abdullah al-Haris speaks at the reopening of the embassy in Damascus. (Saudi Arabia's embassy in Damascus)

Saudi Arabia officially reopened on Tuesday its embassy in Damascus after a 12-year closure.

Saudi Charge d'Affaires Abdullah al-Haris made the announcement during the reopening in the Syrian capital. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several senior Syrian government officials and diplomats.

Al-Haris described the reopening as a historic day in relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria.

He underscored the embassy’s keenness on exerting all possible efforts to bolster bilateral relations between Riyadh and Damascus.

Saudi Arabia had named Faisal bin Saud al-Mujfel as its ambassador to Syria months after announcing that it was restoring diplomatic ties with Damascus.

He is the Kingdom’s first ambassador to Syria since 2012.

Riyadh and Damascus announced in October that they were restoring ties, days after Syria’s membership was reinstated in the Arab League. Flights between the two countries were also resumed.



Saudi Arabia Warns against Israeli Statements on West Bank Sovereignty

An aerial view shows the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 25, 2023. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 25, 2023. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Warns against Israeli Statements on West Bank Sovereignty

An aerial view shows the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 25, 2023. (Reuters)
An aerial view shows the Jewish settlement of Maale Adumim in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 25, 2023. (Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Tuesday the Kingdom stern warning regarding the extremist statements made by an Israeli cabinet official about imposing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and expanding settlements.

These statements “undermine peace efforts, including the two-state solution; encourage conflicts; and increase extremism, posing a greater threat to regional security and stability,” it stressed.

Saudi Arabia considers these statements “a blatant violation of international laws and UN resolutions, reinforcing occupation and expansion by force, which sets a dangerous precedent.”

The ministry said that the “continued international failure to address this issue threatens the legitimacy and credibility of the international system and its sustainability.”