DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Syria’s interim president made his first journey overseas Sunday, touring to Saudi Arabia in a transfer probably attempting to sign Damascus’ shift away from Iran as its major regional ally.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was as soon as aligned with al-Qaida, landed in Riyadh alongside his authorities’s overseas minister, Asaad al-Shaibani. The 2 males traveled on a Saudi jet, with a Saudi flag seen on the desk behind them.
Saudi state tv trumpeted the truth that al-Sharaa, first identified internationally by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, made Riyadh his first vacation spot.
Syria’s new three-star, tricolor flag flew subsequent to Saudi Arabia’s personal on the airport as al-Sharaa walked off the aircraft in a swimsuit and tie. He later met with a smiling Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the dominion’s de facto ruler, at al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
Riyadh vs. Assad
Saudi Arabia had been among the many Arab nations that poured cash into rebel teams that attempted to topple President Bashar Assad after Syria’s 2011 Arab Spring protests changed into a bloody crackdown. Nonetheless, its teams discovered themselves crushed again as Assad, supported by Iran and Russia, fought the warfare right into a stalemate in Syria.
That modified with the December lightning offensive led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The group was as soon as affiliated with al-Qaida however has since denounced its former ties.
Al-Sharaa and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have fastidiously managed their public picture within the time since, with the interim president favoring an olive-colored army look just like that of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appointing ladies to roles, and attempting to keep up ties to Syria’s Christian and Shiite Alawite populations.
That additionally contains maintaining each Iran and Russia largely at arms’ size as properly. Iran has but to reopen its embassy in Damascus, which had been a key node in operating operations by way of its self-described “Axis of Resistance,” together with Assad’s Syria, Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and different companions.