2023 in review: Syria triumphant in Arab League as Israeli strikes, Iran ties continue

DAMASCUS — The readmission of Syria into the Arab League after an 11-year hiatus in May marked a watershed political moment for the country during a tumultuous year.

Coming in from the cold, Damascus — still riddled with economic challenges and Western sanctions — restored crucial relations with Saudi Arabia and the Arab League, fortifying its regional position after being frozen out for over a decade. 

Shuttle diplomacy ensued, and an emboldened Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, undertook official visits to China, Russia, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Propelled by the outpouring of regional sympathy after the deadly February earthquake that ripped through the north of the country, Syria gained back its decade-long suspended seat at the Arab League, yet military tensions are far from abated, especially on the Israeli front.