US congressmen visit Syria in first trip since al-Assad's ouster
NNA - Two US lawmakers, Representatives Cory Mills of Florida and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, arrived in Damascus on Friday—marking the first visit by American congressional representatives since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December.
A member of the delegation said Mills met with Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani) on Friday evening. The two held a 90-minute discussion focused on US sanctions and Iran.
The source added that Stutzman is expected to meet with Sharaa today, despite the Syrian leader remaining under both US and UN sanctions.
When questioned about engaging with a sanctioned figure, Stutzman pointed to the Trump administration's previous outreach to Iran and North Korea. 'We shouldn't be afraid to talk to anybody,' he said.
'There's an opportunity here—these opportunities come around once in a lifetime,' Stutzman added. 'I don't want Syria pushed into the arms of China, or back into the arms of Russia and Iran.' --- (Reuters)
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