Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad arrives at the Arab League Summit

 

Syrian President Bashar Assad attended the Arab League summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after being suspended from the regional body for 12 years. 

This marks a potential beginning of the end of diplomatic rejection for Syria, but it has also sparked controversy and massive reactions among Syrians. While Assad's readmission into the Arab League is significant, it is unlikely to bring progress on resolving Syria's brutal civil war. 

The summit provides Saudi Arabia with an opportunity to showcase its role as a mediator and resist pressure to pick sides in the larger competition for power between the US and Russia.