The state-run news agency, SANA, on Monday said “Assad and senior government officials participated in Eid al-Fitr prayers this morning in the Damascus mosque of Al-Khair.”

Assad’s last public appearance was earlier this month when he was sworn in for a third seven-year term as Syria's president after winning the election by a landslide.

A number of Muslim nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Jordan, Bahrain, Syria and Palestine are celebrating Eid al-Fitr on Monday.

This is while other nations, including Iran, said the moon crescent marking the beginning of the new month could not be sighted Sunday night and will therefore celebrate the auspicious end of the holy month of Ramadan on Tuesday.

The fasting month of Ramadan - the ninth month on the Islamic calendar - culminates in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which is one of the major holidays in the Muslim world.

RA/NJF