The decision to readmit Syria into the Arab League gives an unnecessary and unjustified diplomatic victory to "a war criminal and his accomplices" – Iran and Russia. The US State Department reiterated that Washington will not normalize relations with the Assad regime, and stressed that the United States does not support others doing so.
Assad is due to attend the Arab summit in Jeddah on Friday for the first time since 2010, after diplomatic efforts led to the return of Damascus to its Arab surroundings.