Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday met with Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al Jolani, in a visit to Damascus, his first since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Al-Jolani took office as the head of the new Syrian administration after the rapid collapse of al-Assad's regime last year.

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will meet Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday, two Lebanese sources said, becoming the first head of government to visit Syria's capital since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

The Al-Watan newspaper said the crush happened during the distribution of free meals by a social media personality

"Our problem is not with Israel. We don't want to meddle in anything that will threaten Israel's security," Damascus Governor Maher Marwan tells NPR. Syria and Israel have never had diplomatic ties.

Italy is ready to play its part to promote a reform process in Syria and seeks to act as a bridge between the new Syria and the European Union, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a press conference in Damascus on Friday after meeting with Syrian leader Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa,