Saudi Arabia is back on the diplomatic offensive in the Middle East. This week King Abdullah made a rare trip outside the Kingdom to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. During the visit, the two leaders signed a series of agreements aimed at ameliorating relations between their two countries and made a joint statement calling for the formation of a unity government in Lebanon.

Syria, in partnership with Iran, has long backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, while the Saudis support the ruling March 14 coalition. Enmity between the two Lebanese parties is deep-seated but has been exacerbated in recent years by Saudi, Syrian and Iranian influence.

For the Saudis, the visit is less about actually solving the Lebanese political stalemate and more about countermanding Iranian influence in the region.

King Abdullah’s visit is the most recent in a series of diplomatic exchanges between the two countries, which include the appointment of a Saudi ambassador to Syria after an 18 month absence and a state visit by President al-Assad for the inauguration of the new Saudi research university.