The readmission of Syria into the Arab League sends a chilling message to the victims of the Syrian regime.

When Bashar al-Assad sits in his chair at the Arab summit, it will be a sad day for Arab diplomacy, sending a message to the victims of the regime's atrocities that Bashar al-Assad can continue to go unpunished.

Assad received a reward without making concessions to ease the suffering of Syrians, the editorial said, describing the Arab League as "a largely toothless body."

The FT asserted that the decision to readmit Syria into the Arab League gives an unnecessary and unjustified diplomatic victory to "a war criminal and his accomplices" – Iran and Russia.

Meanwhile, the US State Department reiterated that Washington will not normalize relations with the Assad regime, and stressed that the United States does not support others doing so.

The State Department indicated that it does not believe Syria deserves to return to the Arab League, and explained that Washington raised this point with its regional partners.

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad participated Wednesday in the preparatory meeting for the Arab summit in the Saudi city of Jeddah to be held next Friday.

Assad is due to attend the Arab summit in Jeddah on Friday for the first time since 2010, after diplomatic efforts led to the return of Damascus to its Arab surroundings after more than 11 years of isolation.