Meeting Syrian FM, Rubio welcomes Damascus calls for peace with Israel

During his first-ever meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Hassan al-Shaibani in Turkey earlier today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed what he characterized as “the Syrian government’s calls for peace with Israel,” the State Department says.

Rubio appeared to be referring to comments a senior Syrian official made during an interview with the Kan public broadcaster yesterday where he said that Damascus is open to peace with everyone in the region, without exceptions.

US President Donald Trump said after meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa yesterday that the latter indicated willingness to join the Abraham Accords once they are “straightened out,” adding “they have a lot of work to do” before that happens.

Rubio, during his meeting with Shaibani, “affirmed the United States’ support for sanctions relief to stabilize Syria.”

“He welcomed… efforts to end Iran’s influence in Syria, commitment to ascertaining the fate of US citizens missing or killed in Syria, and elimination of all chemical weapons.”

Rubio also “underscored the critical importance of protecting the human rights of all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religion,” the US readout says.