Saudi Arabia sends 18th relief plane to Turkey for earthquake victims

Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it had sent its 18th relief flight to Turkey to help those affected by February’s earthquake.

"The eighteenth relief plane left King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, heading to Gaziantep Airport in Turkey, carrying more than 32 tons of medical equipment," reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

It comes "as part of the Saudi relief air bridge to help those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey," added SPA.

The last flight carrying aid to Turkey from Saudi Arabia was on 17 June.

السعودية تسير طائرة إغاثة جديدة لدعم متضرري زلزال تركيا وسورياhttps://t.co/ubKvPtkitx pic.twitter.com/MUBahsrObY

— يني شفق العربية (@YeniSafakArabic) August 5, 2023

The devastating 6 February earthquake destroyed large swathes of southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria, killing tens of thousands of people.

Countries from around the world began sending aid to both countries. During the relief effort, Saudi Arabia which sent its first plane to a Syrian airport under regime control in 12 years.

Riyadh had long backed rebel groups fighting Bashar al-Assad’s forces, but this year saw a re-establishment of ties between the two countries, as well as Syria regaining its seat in the Arab League.

Turkey had also been at odds for years with Saudi Arabia over Ankara's support of pro-democracy movements in the Middle East and North Africa and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

They have recently repaired ties, inking several memorandums of understanding in different sectors, especially as Turkey’s economy struggles with rising inflation and a weakening currency.