Oman's Sultan Haitham hosts Syria's Assad in Muscat after earthquake

The visit comes two weeks after disaster that killed tens of thousands in Syria and Turkey

Sultan Haitham of Oman receives Syrian President Bashar Al Assad at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat. Photo: Oman News Agency

Mr Al Assad was met by Sultan Haitham and other dignitaries in Muscat. Photo: Oman News Agency

His visit came just two weeks after a massive earthquake shook Turkey and Syria, killing more than 46,000 people. Photo: Oman News Agency

Sultan Haitham welcomes Mr Al Assad. Photo: Oman News Agency

Sultan Haitham expressed condolences to the families of Syrians killed in the Earthquake. Photo: Oman News Agency

Mr Al Assad thanked Oman for the aid it sent after the earthquake. Photo: Oman News Agency

Oman has maintained relations with Syria throughout the decade-long civil war. AFP

Sultan Haitham and Mr Al Assad meet in Muscat.

Sultan Haitham and Mr Al Assad meet in Muscat. Reuters

Syrian President Bashar Al Assad arrived in Muscat for a working visit to Oman on Monday.

He was greeted by Sultan Haitham, and the leaders travelled to Al Baraka Palace for talks. It is a rare official trip to a Gulf nation in more than a decade of civil war at home.

Sultan Haitham “renewed his condolences and sincere sympathy” for the victims of the February 6 earthquake, which killed almost 45,000 people in Syria and Turkey, Oman's state news agency reported.

Mr Al Assad thanked Oman for its efforts to help with the earthquake recovery.

His office quoted Mr Assad as saying that Oman preserved “its balanced policies and credibility” adding that the region needs the role of Oman to strengthen relations between Arab countries based on “mutual respect and noninterference in other countries' affairs.”

Syria is still reeling from the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that reduced hundreds of buildings in the north-west of the country to rubble. The most affected regions, however, lie outside the Syrian regime's control.

Aid has taken days to get to those in need from Damascus and from across the border in Turkey.

Oman has maintained ties with Syria throughout the twelve years of civil conflict sparked by a 2011 uprising, despite the Arab League suspending Syria from its membership.

The Sultanate sent a new ambassador to Syria in 2020- the first since 2012 to represent the country from inside Syria- and Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi visited Damascus in January 2022.

Oman's Royal Air Force has conducted aid flights to Syria since the earthquake.

Oman experienced its own earthquake last week. On Sunday a 4.1-magnitude earthquake was detected near Duqm, but no injuries were reported.