Syria embassy in Saudi Arabia reopens, raises flag of revolution

Syria’s embassy in Saudi Arabia has reportedly reopened and raised the flag of the Syrian revolution, following the recent fall of former dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime this month.

A clip circulating throughout social media has the Syrian embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh – which has been officially closed during the 14-year-long civil war in Syria – showed the building now reopened and active, with the flag of the Syrian revolution flying on its grounds.

Saudi Arabia resumes the activities of the Syrian Embassy In Riyadh pic.twitter.com/0HNtK0RZFS

— Baraa Shiban براء شيبان (@BShtwtr) December 21, 2024

Attended by a number of Syrians and Saudis, the apparent reopening event was further highlighted by the songs of Abdul Baset Al-Sarout, the Syrian goalkeeper and figure who rose to prominence during the revolution and came to be known as ‘the singer of the revolution’ before being injured in battle and succumbing to his wounds on 8 June 2019.

The reopening comes at a time when numerous Syrian embassies throughout the world have taken down the Baathist flag of the ousted Assad regime and raised the new – and historical, pre-1971 – Syrian flag of independence featuring the green, white, and black tricolours with three red stars.

The moves signal growing chances of international recognition of the new Syrian authorities, with many delegations from various countries having visited Damascus over the past two weeks for diplomatic talks with the interim government and its de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

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