Bipartisan U.S. Lawmakers Press Israel to Halt Syria Strikes

A bipartisan trio of U.S. lawmakers—Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Joni Ernst and Representative Joe Wilson—publicly criticized Israel’s latest air-strikes in Damascus, calling them “destabilizing” and urging Jerusalem to halt military action to preserve a nascent Syrian-Israeli peace effort. In a joint statement released 28 Aug., the legislators said the overnight attacks reportedly killed eight Syrian soldiers and jeopardise momentum gained during recent direct talks brokered by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack. Shaheen, Ernst and Wilson had visited Syria days earlier and met interim President Ahmad Al Sharaa and cabinet members. They argued that Syria, emerging from more than 14 years of civil conflict, is prepared to negotiate with Israel and that continued hostilities could close the “shrinking window” for a lasting settlement. The lawmakers also praised President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year to lift U.S. sanctions on Damascus, saying the move helped unlock dialogue between the two long-time adversaries. They warned that renewed violence risks undercutting efforts to contain Iranian influence and the Islamic State resurgence in the region.