Syria’s foreign minister arrives in Washington for first time in 25 years

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani has arrived in the United States on an official visit, Reuters reports.

“Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and his accompanying delegation arrived in Washington on an official, historic visit. This is the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to the United States in 25 years,” Syria’s foreign ministry press service said in a statement.

As noted, al-Shibani will meet U.S. lawmakers to discuss the lifting of remaining U.S. sanctions on his country.

The U.S. seeks to integrate its longtime Syrian Kurdish allies with the central administration of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

The United States has also been mediating between Israel and Syria. Sharaa, who is due to visit New York next week for the UN General Assembly, said negotiations to reach a security pact with Israel could yield results “in the coming days.”