The story: Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi has led a high-profile Arab delegation to Damascus to “return Syria to the Arab fold” and show solidarity following devastating earthquakes. The group included representatives of states that severed ties with Syria following the eruption of civil conflict in 2011. As Arab normalization with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad continues, the absence of delegates from Qatar and Saudi Arabia in Damascus was notable.

The coverage: The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Feb. 26 reported that Assad received the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) delegation at his Damascus headquarters.

• The AIPU is composed of parliamentary groups representing Arab legislatures with the aim of reinforcing Arab solidarity and joint action.
  
  
• SANA reported that the AIPU delegation was led by Halbousi and included his Egyptian, Emirati, Jordanian, Libyan, and Palestinian counterparts. Delegates from Lebanon and Oman were also present.
  
  
• SANA on Feb. 26 quoted Egyptian Speaker Hanafi El-Gebaly as stating that “Syria will return to its normal position in the Arab League” and that “this visit aims at confirming support for the Syrian leadership, government and...