Syria resumes participation in the Arab League after 12 years of exclusion.

247 - Syria will resume its participation in the work of the Arab League from May 7, the organization's foreign ministers said in a statement on Sunday (7).

The vote in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, took place days after key regional diplomats met in Jordan, as the war in the devastated country continues to subside, and shortly before Saudi Arabia hosts the next Arab League Summit on May 19.

"An agreement has been reached for delegations from the government of the Syrian Arab Republic to participate in the sessions of the Council of the Arab League, as well as all its institutions, starting on May 7, 2023," the statement said.

13 of the 22 member states that participated in the session endorsed the decision. The Arab League generally tries to reach agreements by consensus, but sometimes opts for simple majorities.

The statement also calls for a resolution to the crisis in the country, including the flight of refugees to neighboring countries and drug trafficking in the region. The decision further stated that Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and the Secretary-General of the Arab League would form a contact group to seek "step-by-step" solutions to the crisis.

The 22-nation Arab League suspended Syria's membership in 2011 after war broke out in the country. Several member states recalled their ambassadors from Syria in protest against the policies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accusing his government of repressing demonstrators in the country. Years later, some of the nations began taking steps to reconnect with Damascus and reopen embassies.

The United States, angered by the rehabilitation of Bashar al-Assad's government, said that Damascus does not deserve to be brought back into the group. Washington supports "rebel" groups that attack the Syrian government, while Damascus classifies these groups as terrorists. 

The Arab League's decision comes after the Iranian president, Ebrahim raisiIran visited Assad in Damascus. In a statement to the press, Raisi reiterated his willingness to cooperate in the reconstruction process of the Levantine nation. It was the first visit by an Iranian leader to Syria since 2010. Iran is an ally of Syria and has offered military and economic support since the beginning of the war against the Levantine nation in 2011.