El-Sisi also expressed to Al-Assad his sincere condolences over the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Syria on Monday, wishing the injured a quick recovery, according to Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency Ahmed Fahmy. 

This is the first-ever phone call between the two leaders since El-Sisi took office in 2014.

For his part, the Syrian president expressed his appreciation to El-Sisi for his kind gesture, stressing “Syria’s pride in the historical and fraternal relations” between the two countries.

On Monday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and multiple aftershocks struck eastern Turkey and neighbouring Syria, killing more than 5,000 people, according to AP.

Also on Monday, El-Sisi expressed Egypt's "full solidarity" with the people of Syria and Turkey as well as the country's readiness to provide aid to face the impacts of the deadly earthquake.

"I express my sincere condolences to the people of Syria and Turkey and the families of the victims of this devastating earthquake that struck the Eastern Mediterranean region," El-Sisi said during a press conference alongside the Croatian President Zoran Milanovich who is visiting the Egyptian capital to discuss bilateral relations.

Moreover, El-Sisi confirmed his readiness to provide aid to face the impacts of this earthquake, adding "once more, our sincerest condolences and solidarity and our prayers to God for a speedy recovery of the injured."

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Egypt is ready to provide assistance to help both Syria and Turkey face the horrifying impacts of the deadly earthquake that struck both countries as well as a number of eastern Mediterranean countries.

In two separate phone calls with his Turkish and Syrian counterparts, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry announced that Egypt was sending urgent relief aid to both countries.

Egypt’s embassies in Syria and Turkey launched on Monday hotlines for Egyptians in both countries to report any damage or call for help following the deadly earthquake that hit both countries.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid released online the hotline numbers of both embassies.

Egyptian Embassy in Ankara: 00905497695566

Egyptian Embassy in Damascus: 00963112144886 - 00963112144885