Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visits Lebanon on Thursday in the first trip to Beirut by Riyadh's top diplomat in 15 years, seeking a commitment to reform as the Gulf state reasserts sway in a country where Iranian influence is waning.

Join our Whatsapp channel BEIRUT: Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat, on his country’s first high-level visit to Beirut after years of strained ties, said on Thursday he believed crisis-hit Lebanon ...

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah expressed on Thursday the Kingdom’s optimism over Lebanon’s future. Prince Faisal was in Lebanon on Thursday on an official visit, the first by a Saudi FM in 15 years.

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat said Friday the kingdom was seeking to help Syria's new authorities secure the lifting of international sanctions, during his first visit to Damascus since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister on Friday made his first visit to Syria since the fall of former president Bashar Al Assad and held talks with the country's new leader, Ahmad Al Shara. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's visit to Damascus comes as the Syrian transitional government seeks investments to help rebuild the country after 14 years of civil war.

On Thursday, for the first time since the 2010 Saudi Arabia-Syria Summit, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan will visit Beirut. This visit comes after more than five years of strained relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

During a press conference Friday with his Syrian counterpart, bin Farhan said Saudi Arabia was standing by Syria, pointing to "the importance of accelerating the lifting and freezing of all sanctions".

This administration is committed to its Arab roots and recognizes the significant role Saudi Arabia can play in Syria's reconstruction efforts, as well as in balancing the increasing Turkish influence in the country.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Friday that it reopened its embassy in Lebanon, state media reported, years after it was shut down in solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat landed in Beirut on Thursday to meet the country's new leadership in the first visit by a high-ranking official from the kingdom after more than a decade of strained ties.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed confidence in Lebanon's new leaders' ability to carry out necessary reforms,