US Congressmen claim Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa open to Israel normalisation

The Republican politician made an unofficial visit to Damascus as part of a fact-finding mission arranged by a network of prominent Syrian-American figures, where the two discussed the potential for lifting US sanctions on Syria to aid the country's economic recovery.

Mills held a 90-minute meeting with Sharaa, outlining key conditions for the possible easing of US sanctions including cooperation on counter-terrorism, the elimination of Syria's remaining chemical weapons, and clear assurances to Israel, a major US ally that opposes the lifting of sanctions that were imposed during the rule of Bashar Al-Assad.

US Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman, who accompanied Mills on the trip, separately told The Jerusalem Post that Sharaa was interested in joining the Abraham Accords, referring to the multiple normalisation deals between Arab countries and Israel during Trump's last term. 

"Sharaa said that he was open to the Abraham Accords, which would put them in good standing with Israel, other Middle Eastern countries, and, of course, the United States," Stutzman told the Israeli newspaper. 

However, Stutzman said that Sharaa had laid out his own conditions for normalisation, first and foremost is sanctions relief, but this would also involve guarantees from Israel to end hostilities against Syria. 

"Sharaa’s concerns are that the country of Syria would be divided up into regions. He didn’t want to see that happen," he told the JPost.

"He wanted to see the country of Syria stay unified. He also mentioned that Israel’s encroachment near the Golan Heights must be addressed, and there should be no further bombings in Syria by Israel. I truly believe he is open to dialogue."

Gulf states like Qatar and Saudi Arabia have expressed interest in investing in Syria’s reconstruction, but Washington's sanctions remain a major obstacle.

A coalition of Syrian-American advocates is pressuring Washington to ease these financial penalties, but it is expected that Trump will want various concessions from the new Syrian government in return.

Mills told Bloomberg that he plans to brief US President Donald Trump and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz upon his return from the country about the meetings.

Mills is known to be close to Trump and is considered to be an influential voice within the House Republican Party and the White House. 

Sharaa and his government have not commented on the claims made by the US Congressman, which is a highly controversial issue in Syria due to widespread opposition to normalisation with Israel. 

The Florida Congressman said he will deliver a letter from Sharaa to Trump, without disclosing the contents of it. The White House has made no comment on the letter or on Mills' trip to Syria. 

European states have started to ease their own sanctions on the new government, which were also imposed on Syria due to massive human rights abuses by the Assad regime.

Israel has acted with deadly aggression to the new Syrian government since it was established following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December.

It has carried out unprecedented airstrikes on civil and military infrastructure, particularly but not limited to its northern border, as well as expanding its illegal occupation of the Golan Heights into a buffer zone.

Israel has also openly discussed its wish to divide Syria along ethnic and religious grounds, particularly regarding the Druze-majority province of Suweida.

In January, it was reported that a cabinet meeting chaired by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz discussed a plan to divide Syria into autonomous cantons on ethnic and sectarian lines, adding that the plan had been floated by Israeli officials ever since the overthrow of the Assad regime.