First Syrian jet in over a decade transports Muslim worshippers to Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage

For the first time in over a decade, 270 Syrians flew directly from Damascus to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage, reflecting improved relations between the two nations. Saudi Arabia recently appointed its first ambassador to Syria since cutting ties in 2012. Syria was reinstated in the Arab League in 2023, having been suspended for over a decade due to President Bashar Assad's harsh response to 2011 protests. Another flight of pilgrims is scheduled for later on Tuesday. Last year, 1.8 million Muslims participated in the Hajj, which starts on June 14 this year. Syria's ongoing 14-year civil war has caused nearly 500,000 deaths and displaced millions, with widespread poverty and limited aid exacerbating the crisis.