A street view of Baghdad

Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad Tuesday, a quarter of a century after relations were broken over Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, a foreign ministry official said.

“The staff of the Saudi embassy arrived today in Baghdad,” the official told AFP.

“They were met at the airport by foreign ministry officials. The staff consists of 35 people, led by the ambassador’s deputy.”

The ambassador himself is due to arrive by Thursday and will attend an official opening ceremony.

A consulate is expected to open later in Erbil, capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region.

Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq were severed in 1990 but restored in 2004 after the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.

Relations remain strained between the Gulf kingdom, a Sunni powerhouse, and Shiite-dominated Iraq, where Iran and armed groups loyal to it wield huge influence.

Iraqi officials have repeatedly accused Riyadh of abetting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, which took over swathes of the country last year.

Related articles across the web

• Ageless Iraq 1950-1959 reel
• Lindsey Graham: 'I miss George W. Bush' due to Obama's ISIS policy
• Finland: Members of Islamic State remanded in custody in refugee center
• Arabs Aren't Suited For Democracy
• President shuns new path in terror battle
• From Pol Pot to ISIS: The blood never dried
• The most important moment at last night's GOP debate
• Federalist compares Barack Obama to Baghdad Bob
• (1/11) "When I was a baby I came very close to dying. I'm not...
• Re: * Why was this pilot on DHS Watchlist? Disgusting!