Assad gets warm reception as Syria welcomed back into Arab League
Al JazeeraJUL 2023
The fact that corrupt Arab leaders are now rolling out the red carpet for the Syrian regime — that bloodily crushed pro-democracy protests in 2011 and sparked a vicious civil war — is deeply disappointing and ultimately only strengthens Assad and his allies. Washington will continue to advocate for Syrians' humanitarian relief and security and remains steadfast in its belief that there can be no rapprochement with Syria without credible progress toward a political settlement to the conflict.
Syria's normalization was a long overdue step and underscores recent efforts by regional powers to pursue their own policies, independent of the US, to build peace and stability in the Middle East. This will ultimately strengthen the region's position on the world stage. Syria's reintegration into the Arab fold — rather than its exclusion as demanded by Washington — is the surest and most effective way to overcome the Syrian crisis and humanitarian hardship.