Iraqi President Salih to Visit Damascus within Next Few Days

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iraqi President Barham Salih is reportedly going to pay an official visit to Damascus, in his first visit to Syria since the start of the foreign-sponsored conflict there more than seven years ago.

News ID: 74432

Date: 19 December 2018 - 14:15

An Iraqi diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Arabic service of Russia’s Sputnik news agency on Tuesday that the 58-year-old Kurdish politician will depart Baghdad for the Syrian capital “in the coming days,” press tv reported.

The report came only two days after Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir  became the first Arab League leader to visit Damascus.

Syria's official news agency SANA said Bashir was greeted by his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad upon arrival at Damascus International Airport, before they both headed to the presidential palace.

Earlier this month, Lebanese legislator Abdel Rahim Mourad said he had been officially informed by Emirati officials that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intends to restore diplomatic relations with Syria, and open its embassy in Damascus.

“The UAE supports the return of Syria to the Arab League,” the Lebanese parliamentarian said while taking part in the "Game of Nations" program on Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

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