The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, was welcomed in Jeddah upon his arrival for the Arab League summit, following the country's 12-year ban from the block at the start of a brutal civil war which saw Assad stay in power. The Syrian leader shook hands with and hugged the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who has been pursuing a policy of regional rapprochement.

Syria’s Bashar al-Assad returns to Arab League after years of isolation