Sharaa, announced his agreement to deploy UN forces in the designated buffer zone with Israel. Earlier, Israeli forces occupied the area after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Reuters reports. "Israel's advance in the region was due to the presence of Iranian militias and Hezbollah.

The UN envoy to Syria warned the country's Islamist-led caretaker regime Wednesday against making mistakes that would imperil the political transition underway after decades of dictatorship under fallen strongman Bashar al-Assad.

Chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, met Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday, state media reported, as last month's ouster of Bashar al-Assad sparks hopes for justice.

EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib announced a 235 million euro aid package for Syria and neighbouring countries on Friday during a visit to Damascus.

DAMASCUS/WASHINGTON - The U.S. on Monday issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule in an effort to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.

The country's new rulers have been pushing for sanctions relief since overthrowing Bashar al-Assad's government last month