U.S. Congressman: Sharaa Open to Improving Relations with Israel
+963 (Independent website)
April 24, 2025
Sharaa also voiced concerns over Iranian efforts to destabilize Syria.
Sharaa also voiced concerns over Iranian efforts to destabilize Syria.
In an interview with The New York Times, Sharaa made a direct appeal to the international community for financial aid, military support, and the lifting of sanctions, describing Syria’s stability as a global concern.
Despite ongoing engagement, the United States maintains an ambiguous stance towards Syria’s new leadership, al-Araby al-Jadeed writes.
The visit comes amid reports, including from Politico, that the U.S. State Department and Treasury are considering easing long-standing sanctions on Syria
While the document covers wide-ranging security issues, it notably omits concrete demands for the establishment of a transitional government, constitutional reform, or implementation of transitional justice.
Sharaa is seen as a stabilising figure in a chaotic transition, someone who filled the post-Assad vacuum when no other credible authority could
Although the Presidential Office issued a statement clarifying that Jamal al-Sharqa holds no official position within the state and that his presence was strictly personal, the announcement failed to stem the wave of criticism.
The meeting reflected a shared willingness by both Damascus and Erbil to recalibrate their bilateral relations and open direct lines of communication, 963 writes.
The list of U.S. demands calls for Damascus to issue a formal public statement banning all Palestinian political factions and activities on Syrian soil.
In the absence of a clearly defined Syria policy, two competing currents have emerged within the US administration, united only in their satisfaction over the fall of the Assad regime, Marwan Qabalan writes in al-Araby al-Jadeed.
The fate of these individuals divides Syrian society. One camp—led by the current Damascus authorities—sees it as a betrayal to expel those who fought and suffered alongside Syrians. Yet, many reject this sympathetic view.
A senior U.S. official familiar with the matter told The Hill that there had been “significant internal debate within the administration” over whether to demand the closure of Russia’s military base in Syria
Samer Foz rose to prominence during the years of war and sanctions, becoming a central player in the regime’s shadow economy, Sawt al-Asima writes.
Ghalioun stressed the urgency of initiating a bottom-up democratic transition—beginning with free local elections and democratic trade unions, Syria TV says.
Observers believe the timing and scope of the Israeli operations are strategic, reflecting growing Israeli concerns about renewed Iranian entrenchment and Hezbollah activity near the Israeli-Syrian border
Regarding the U.S. military presence in Syria, the State Department affirmed that no decision has been made about withdrawing American forces.
According to confidential sources, over $200,000 in funding has recently been funnelled into Daraa to support small cells in towns such as Lajat, Tafas, and surrounding villages, al-Hal reports.
Hassoun, a known loyalist of former president Bashar al-Assad, has been a controversial figure for years.
Analysts and former officials have noted that PKK-linked figures, many of whom are non-Syrians from Turkey or Iran, continue to hold sensitive leadership roles within the SDF’s intelligence branches and special forces, Enab Baladi writes.
Alawite Syrians stood on the periphery of the national dream, entangled in a dense net of state-manufactured illusions and fears, Wael Sawah writes.
