All eyes on Abdullah visit to Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Damascus welcomed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for a two-day visit to discuss bilateral ties, Lebanon and the Middle East peace process.

Abdullah arrived for his first trip to Damascus since he came to power in 2005 in a sign of a regional diplomatic thaw.

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria hit a snag following a 2004 U.N. resolution calling on Hezbollah to disarm. Ties were strained further in the aftermath of the 2005 assassination of Saudi ally former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which some blame on Syria.

Syria has sought to repair years of isolationist policies by moving closer to the region, embracing French allies and moving to restore relations with Lebanon.

The leaders from both countries met in Riyadh earlier this year, with Saudi Arabia reinstating its ambassador in August. Both countries hold significant influence over Lebanese politics and the situation in Palestine.

For Washington, political analysts tell the Christian Science Monitor in Damascus that the visit is not only an opportunity to court Syria, but also a chance to isolate Iran further.

"The Abdullah visit is significant symbolically in that it opens the door for Damascus to move away from an increasingly isolated Iran toward Washington's Arab allies," said Andrew Tabler from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.