The Arab League readmitted Syria after more than a decade of suspension, consolidating a regional push to normalize ties with President Bashar al-Assad.
The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings, while calling for resolving the crisis resulting from Syria’s civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighboring countries and drug smuggling.

While Arab states pressed to end Assad’s isolation, some have opposed full normalization without a political solution to the Syrian conflict, seeking conditions for Syria’s return.

“The reinstatement of Syria does not mean normalization of relations between Arab countries and Syria,” Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters in Cairo. “This is a sovereign decision for each country to make.”

Syria called on Arab states to show “mutual respect”.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington shared the goals of Arab partners in Syria, including building security and stability, but remained “skeptical of Assad’s willingness to take the steps necessary to resolve Syria’s crisis”.

“We do not believe Syria merits readmission into the Arab League at this time,” the spokesperson said, adding that U.S. sanctions would remain in full effect.

But Russia, an Assad ally, hailed Syria’s readmission.

“Moscow welcomes this long-awaited step, the logical result of the process, which has gained momentum, of returning Syria to the ‘Arab family,'” Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said in a statement.