Syrian foreign minister arrives in Saudi Arabia with delegation

A Syrian delegation led by newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday in its first official visit abroad, Syrian state news agency SANA reported, citing a Foreign Ministry source.

The delegation includes Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra.

The visit came less than a month since Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels on Dec. 8.

The new Syrian administration is actively seeking to establish diplomatic ties and attract aid to rebuild its struggling economy.

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has met delegations from Germany as well as Qatar, Jordan and Turkey in a sign of warming ties.

Senior U.S. diplomats, including Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, also met with al-Sharaa in Damascus. Discussions focused on Syria's political transition, counterterrorism efforts, and the status of missing American citizens. Following these talks, the U.S. lifted a $10 million bounty previously placed on al-Sharaa.