Syria-Saudi Hajj Air Route Reopens After Over A Decade
The resumption is a step in the gradual warming of ties between Syria and Saudi Arabia, which saw the restoration of diplomatic relations last year.
According to Suleiman Khalil, a transport ministry official, the inaugural flight transported 270 pilgrims from Damascus to Jeddah, with additional flights scheduled shortly, AFP reported on Tuesday.
Khalil clarified, "This decision only applies to the Hajj period. We are studying the reopening of a direct air route."
Read More:
In a related diplomatic advance, Saudi Arabia has named Faisal al-Mujfel as its ambassador to Syria, the first such appointment since the Saudi embassy in Damascus was shuttered in 2012.
SPA, Saudi Arabia's state news agency, reported the envoy's aspiration to "serve the Kingdom's interests and strengthen the bilateral bonds between the two brotherly nations."
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia reinstated its embassy in Syria with a charge d'affaires, reciprocating Syria's reestablishment of its Riyadh embassy last year and the appointment of a new ambassador in December.
These moves are part of a broader trend of reconciliation efforts by Arab states in the region with Syria. In a landmark event, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad attended an Arab summit in Saudi Arabia in May 2023, his first in 13 years, signaling a significant step towards reintegrating Syria into the Arab community some 12 years after foreign-backed terrorism and violence gripped the country.
Source: Agencies
