Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) following the conclusion of the 32nd Arab League summit that was held in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the Syrian Presidency confirmed on Friday.

Al-Assad and MBS discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and developments in the Arab region "in light of the positive atmosphere in inter-Arab relations that reflects a collective approach toward common visions that culminated in the Jeddah summit," the Presidency indicated in a statement.

📹 | HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the President of Syria.
pic.twitter.com/BBISlRa2dP
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) May 19, 2023

It added that the Syrian President valued the efforts made by Saudi Arabia at the level of achieving Arab rapprochement and building a political atmosphere that helps joint action among Arab countries.

Al-Assad congratulated MBS on the success of the Jeddah summit and pointed out that it would contribute to more Arab cohesion, the statement said.

Elsewhere, the Presidency mentioned that both leaders praised the return of the usual relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia, which would contribute to the stability of the region and serve the joint Arab action.

Arab League returned to Syria, not other way around: Israeli media

Earlier, Israeli media touched on the photo of the handshake between the Syrian President and MBS, suggesting that it was a "victory for Al-Assad."

The media considered that "it is more correct to say that the Arab League has returned to Syria, not the other way around."

It stressed that what is happening is undoubtedly "a massive victory for Syria and its leader," pointing out that all that remains for Syria is to restore relations with Turkey to their previous state.

On his part, Israeli channel Kan's Arab Affairs Correspondent, Roi Kais, tweeted a video showing MBS receiving Al-Assad and embarrassing warmly before the Arab League Summit in Jeddah, commenting, "The picture of Assad's victory."

During his speech earlier today, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad considered this summit "a historic opportunity to rearrange our [Arab] affairs with minimum foreign interference, which requires repositioning ourselves in this emerging world so that we can become active members of its order."

#Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad: "We must consider the great issues that lie behind our crises, and this is a historic opportunity for us to arrange our affairs without foreign interference."#ArabLeagueSummit #Syria https://t.co/Otg6j89IFk
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 19, 2023

Al-Assad's speech was part of the 32nd Arab League summit kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today. Twenty-two member states, five observer countries, and their respective heads of state and government are attending the pan-Arab summit.

The Syrian President arrived in Jeddah on Thursday to take part in the summit, after receiving an official invitation from Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

It is noteworthy that on May 7, the Arab League announced readmitting Syria to the bloc following a 12-year war on the country.