Every handshake would count, and Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad had plenty of them at Friday’s (May 19) Arab League Summit – along with hugs and kisses – from his onetime foes in the region.

As he strolled into the summit venue in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Friday afternoon, a beaming Assad extended his arms to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who grabbed them both and kissed Assad once on each cheek.