Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Washington D.C. on September 18th, 2025, marking the first visit by a Syrian foreign minister to the U.S. in 25 years. His arrival occurs at a critical juncture for several diplomatic initiatives that are expected to shape Syria's future and its post-Bashar al-Assad transition. During this reporting window, an agreement signed on March 10, 2025, between the interim Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) was discussed. Abdulkarim Omar, a representative of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), met with officials at his newly established office in Damascus to discuss the implementation of this agreement, as confirmed by the Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon. Separately, within Syria, a petition advocating for self-determination has been organized in Suwayda province, in areas controlled by pro-Hijri factions. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing situation within the country, as reported by Qalaat Al Mudiq. The Syrian government's recent permission for the Autonomous Administration to open an office in Damascus was noted as part of an integration process, though its effectiveness was described as uncertain amidst a seemingly worsening trajectory, according to a statement shared on X by user vvanwilgenburg.
