Egypt's foreign minister visits Syria for first time since war

FILE PHOTO: Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during a televised address, Syria February 16, 2023. Syrian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Egypt's foreign minister arrived in Damascus on Monday, the first visit by an Egyptian foreign minister to Syria since its civil war began in 2011 and another sign of warming ties between President Bashar al-Assad and Arab states that once shunned him.

Assad has benefited from an outpouring of Arab support for Syria since a Feb. 6 earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.