Factbox: Then and now: How Arab states changed course on Syria

[1/2] Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad arrives in Jeddah, to attend the Arab League summit the following day, Saudi Arabia, May 18, 2023. SANA/Handout via REUTERS May 19 (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad’s attendance at an Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday is the result of big policy shifts by Arab states that once backed his opponents in Syria’s civil war. Here is an overview of the policies of major Arab players towards Syria and Assad, and how they have changed: SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia came out strongly against Assad early in the conflict, reflecting concern about the regional influence…