Sharaa, met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday in his first foreign trip as Syrian leader, in a sign of the major shifts under way in regional alliances.

Syria's new leader Ahmad Al Shara discussed ways to rebuild his country's war-damaged economy in a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday. This was Mr Al Shara's first trip abroad since supporters declared the former rebel leader Syria's President last week.

Syria’s interim president has made his first trip abroad, traveling to Saudi Arabia in a move likely trying to signal Damascus’ shift away from Iran as its main regional ally.