Two US Congress members landed in Damascus on Friday to meet Syrian officials, the first visit by American lawmakers to the war-ravaged country since Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power by an Islamist-led rebel offensive in December.The two are US Representatives Cory Mills of Florida, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana. Both are members of President Donald Trump's Republican Party.Mills met new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday night, said a person in the delegation. They discussed US sanctions and Iran during a 90-minute meeting.The source said Stutzman was set to meet on Saturday with Sharaa, still under US and UN sanctions for his previous ties to al Qaeda.Asked about meeting a leader still sanctioned by Washington, Stutzman cited examples of Trump’s administration engaging with Iranian and North Korean leaders.“We shouldn’t be afraid to talk to anybody,” he said, and said he was eager to see how Syria would deal with foreign fighters and rule the country’s diverse population inclusively.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will deliver a special statement on Saturday night, the Prime Minister's Office announced on Friday.

Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen said on Thursday he met Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongly deported to El Salvador by the administration of Republican President Donald Trump.The senator posted an image with Abrego Garcia on the social media platform X."I said my main goal of this trip (to El Salvador) was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return," the senator wrote in his post.

US strikes on the Ras Isa fuel port in western Yemen killed at least 33 people on Thursday, Houthi-run media said, marking one of the deadliest days since the US began its attacks on the Iran-backed militants.Al Masirah TV said the strikes, which the US military said were carried out to cut off a source of fuel for the Houthi militant group, also wounded 80 people.The US began large-scale strikes last month against the Houthis, saying it won't stop unless they cease their attacks on Red Sea shipping."The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," the US Central Command said in a post on X.