SYRIA and Saudi Arabia will reopen their respective diplomatic missions now that relations have improved, 11 years after the facilities were closed, the two nations’ foreign ministries have said.

Tuesday’s announcements came nearly a month after the two countries said that they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming airline flights. 

This followed a visit by Syria’s top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012, and a visit by Syria’s foreign minister to Riyadh.

On Sunday, the 22-member Arab League agreed to reinstate Syria’s membership, ending a 12-year suspension, to bring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad back into the regional fold.

Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over its crackdown on protesters taking part in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. 

The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League and the Saudis backing the Syrian opposition.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the reopening of its embassy in Damascus aimed “to strengthen security and stability in the region.”

Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit on May 19 and Syria is expected to attend.