Syria rejoins Arab League after 12-year absence

CAIRO -- Arab foreign ministers decided in an Arab League (AL) extraordinary meeting held in Cairo on Sunday to restore Syria's membership in the league after 12 years of suspension, said a final statement after the meeting.

The AL council meeting at the ministerial level decided to resume "the participation of delegations of the government of Syria in the meetings of the AL council and all its organizations and bodies as of May 7, 2023," read the statement issued by the pan-Arab organization.

The Arab foreign ministers also agreed on the necessity to intensify efforts "to help Syria out of its crisis."

They renewed their commitment to "preserving Syria's sovereignty, territorial unity, stability, and regional integrity based on the AL charter and its principles," according to the statement.

The foreign ministers also agreed to form a committee comprising Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and the AL secretary-general to continue "direct dialogue with the Syrian government to reach a comprehensive solution to the Syrian crisis."