Jordan’s foreign minister visits Syria in first trip since war

Safadi’s go to comes as Syria’s Assad acquired calls and affords of help from leaders in Arab nations.

Support has been gradual to trickle into opposition-held northwestern Syria [Ghaith Alsayed/AP Photo]

Jordan’s Overseas Minister Ayman Safadi has arrived in Damascus on the primary such go to because the Syrian battle began.

Safadi can even head to Turkey later to point out “solidarity” after earthquakes struck the area, killing greater than 41,000 folks in each nations.

“Safadi will talk about the humanitarian and assist wants that the 2 nations want,” an announcement from Jordan’s overseas ministry stated on Wednesday, including that assist planes will fly to each nations.

The go to will concentrate on how Jordan, a neighbour that hosts tens of 1000's of Syrian refugees, can assist in ongoing reduction operations, a supply informed Reuters information company.

Safadi’s go to comes as Syria’s politically remoted president, Bashar al-Assad, acquired calls and affords of help from leaders in Arab nations, together with the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Lebanon.

Critics of the federal government warned al-Assad would use the catastrophe to normalise ties with the remainder of the Arab world, in addition to divert assist by means of government-held areas in Syria to its supporters.

Jordan has despatched massive shipments of assist to Turkey and Syria, with the dominion sending a medical hospital to Turkey and organising a number of flights and assist convoys by means of the nation’s northern border crossing with Syria.

Amman initially supported opposition teams that sought to topple al-Assad, however later backed a Russian-led navy marketing campaign that regained southern Syria from insurgent management.

Efforts to enhance ties with Damascus floundered since al-Assad talked to King Abdullah II in 2021 for the primary time because the battle.

Jordan additionally criticised the Syrian authorities for failing to curb a multibillion-dollar drug smuggling operation to the Gulf by means of its borders, which Amman blamed on Iranian-backed armed teams who maintain sway in southern Syria.

Support into Syria

Support has been gradual to trickle into opposition-held northwestern Syria. A first UN humanitarian convoy crossed on the solely authorised border level, Bab al-Hawa, on February 9.

On Wednesday – 9 days after the primary earthquake – a UN convoy carrying humanitarian help handed by means of Bab al-Salam after al-Assad authorised the usage of two extra crossings from Turkey.

The opposition-run volunteer group, the White Helmets, which operates in northwestern Syria, denounced the UN resolution to hunt authorisation from the Syrian authorities, saying it allowed him to attain a “political acquire”.

The settlement to open the Bab al-Salam and Bab al-Raee crossings to UN assist adopted a gathering in Damascus between al-Assad and UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who visited affected areas over the weekend.