Syria's foreign minister en route to Washington in first official trip to US capital

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (Image: Reuters)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani was due to arrive in Washington on Thursday on his first official trip to the US capital since the Islamist new rulers took over Damascus last year, two sources familiar with the visit told Reuters.

During the visit, the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Washington in more than 25 years, Shibani will meet U.S. lawmakers to discuss the lifting of remaining US sanctions on his country, Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted as saying by Axios.

The visit comes after some senior US diplomats focused on Syria were abruptly let go from their posts amid a pro-Damascus policy push, as Washington 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."