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Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is in Saudi Arabia, attending an Arab League summit for the first time after a 12-year suspension.

Syria was first kicked out of the regional body in 2011, in response to the country's violent supression of protests against Assad's rule. In the ensuing civil war, hundreds of thousands have died, and millions have been displaced.

Last week, the Arab League decided to reinstate Syria's membership in the group. Emma Beals, Syria specialist at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, tells Newshour's Tim Franks why he's been let back in.

(Image: Syria's President Bashar al-Assad chats with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, ahead of the Arab League summit, Credit: Reuters)