Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince meets Syria’s al-Assad in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Jeddah, Al Arabiya reported on Friday.

Al-Assad appreciated Saudi Arabia’s efforts in creating a political atmosphere that helps joint work among Arab countries, the Syrian presidency said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, al-Assad said the Arab League summit that convened in Jeddah was a “historic opportunity” to address crises across the region.

In May, the Arab League agreed to reinstate Syria, ending a 12-year suspension and taking another step toward bringing al-Assad, a long-time regional pariah, back into the fold.

The 22-member bloc suspended Syria in November 2011 over al-Assad’s deadly crackdown on protests which spiraled into a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions.

With agencies