Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al Moallem arrived in Saudi Arabia yesterday in a sign of “warming ties between the two countries,” the official Saudi SPA agency reported.

Ties between Damascus and Riyadh deteriorated after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri, a Saudi citizen and protege, in a bombing widely blamed on Syria, but denied by Damascus.

They were further strained by Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza in December and January. Syria sided with the Hamas, while Saudi Arabia joined Egypt in blocking any collective Arab show of solidarity.

The two sides began mending fences last month with a meeting between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Saudi King Abdullah during an Arab summit in Kuwait.

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Earlier this month, Mr. al-Assad received Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz with a message from the king on improving relations.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com

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