Syrian President Bashar Al Assad touched down in Saudi Arabia to attend an Arab League summit for the first time in 13 years, marking a victory for a leader sanctioned by the U.S. for war atrocities.
Assad arrived in Jeddah late Thursday, the state-run Saudi Press Agency said. He accepted an invitation from King Salman Bin Abdulaziz following the Arab League’s decision to reinstate Syria in the 22-member regional body earlier this month.
It’s a personal triumph for the 57-year-old, who a decade ago spurned the League’s mediation efforts as it sought to prevent his army crushing largely peaceful protests during the Arab Spring uprisings.
