Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation between the two allies, according to state media reports.

Iran has been a key supporter of the Syrian government since the start of the civil war in 2011, providing military advisers and thousands of fighters to help turn the tide in Assad's favor.

Raisi's visit comes as some Arab countries, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have recently been opening up to Assad, and as Iran and Saudi Arabia have taken steps to improve relations.

In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations after seven years of tension. The conflict in Syria has resulted in the deaths of almost half a million people and displacement of half of the country's pre-war population.

Raisi is also set to visit holy sites in Shiite Islam and a monument dedicated to Syrian soldiers killed in battle during his two-day visit to Syria.