A delegation of four U.S. Senators and Representatives, including Senators Joni Ernst and Mullin and Representatives Jason Smith and Jimmy Panetta, visited Syria and met with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani, and Interior Minister Anas Khattab in Damascus. The discussions reportedly focused on economic and security cooperation. President al-Sharaa recently issued a decree establishing a temporary system for selecting members of the Syrian parliament, a move that has faced criticism for being undemocratic. Meanwhile, civil-society activists in Syria are organizing opposition efforts, posing a political challenge to al-Sharaa's presidency. The U.S. is reportedly seeking to arrange a meeting in New York this September between Syrian President al-Jolani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with former President Donald Trump also expected to participate. Additionally, a security agreement between Syria and Israel is alleged to be scheduled for signing on September 25 in Washington, D.C., following al-Sharaa's speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Syrian authorities have also taken steps to appoint an extraordinary ambassador to the United Nations and plan to ease security measures and increase aid convoys to the Suwayda province while preventing the establishment of a direct corridor between Israel and Suwayda. A Syrian official delegation from the ministries of justice, interior, foreign affairs, and intelligence is set to visit Lebanon for talks with Lebanese officials.