Two Republican members of the U.S. Congress visited the Syrian capital unofficially, marking the first such visit since the fall of former President Bashar Assad. The legislators, Rep. Marlin Stutzman and Rep. Cory Mills, visited different neighborhoods in Damascus and met with government officials. They discussed issues such as sanctions, stability, and the transition to a democratically elected society. The visit was organized by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, aiming to foster a partnership between the U.S. and Syria. The U.S. State Department, however, issued a warning against U.S. citizens visiting Syria due to potential imminent attacks.
In a separate development, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Syria, his first since 2007, to strengthen Palestinian-Syrian relations and discuss regional developments. They discussed the war in Gaza and efforts towards a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Syria has a large population of Palestinian refugees, and the Palestinian refugees in Syria have historically had more rights compared to those in Lebanon.
The new Syrian government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, has indicated that it is not interested in entering into a conflict with Israel, but Israeli officials remain suspicious and have seized a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone inside Syria. Israeli forces have launched airstrikes on military facilities in Syria and have stated that they will not allow the new Syrian military south of Damascus. The visit by the U.S. lawmakers and the meeting between Palestinian and Syrian leaders reflect the complex regional dynamics and ongoing issues in the Middle East.
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