US congressman: Syria's Sharaa open to joining Abraham Accords

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is open to joining the Abraham Accords, US Congressman Cory Mills revealed following a rare, unofficial meeting in Damascus.

The Islamist leader, who rose to power after toppling Bashar Al-Assad last year, is reportedly seeking a path toward regional reintegration and economic recovery, Caliber.Az reports citing US media.

Mills, a Republican representing Florida and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, said Sharaa expressed interest in normalising ties with Israel under the right conditions — a move that could reshape the region’s diplomatic landscape.

The Abraham Accords, first brokered by the Trump administration, saw several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, establish formal relations with Israel. Syria, long considered one of Israel’s staunchest adversaries, has fought three wars with its neighbour and continues to demand the return of the Golan Heights.

Mills travelled to Syria last week as part of a fact-finding mission organised by a group of influential Syrian-Americans pushing for the removal of US sanctions. During a 90-minute meeting with Sharaa, the congressman laid out the steps Washington expects before considering any easing of restrictions.

Mills said he plans to brief Trump and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz upon his return and will deliver a letter from Sharaa to Trump. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

“I told him let’s talk soldier to soldier: going from the battlefield to governance is a very difficult transition,” said Mills, an Iraq war veteran and Bronze Star recipient. “At one point, Germany and Japan were our enemies, but we have to move beyond this if we are to have stabilization” in Syria, he added.

Mills also emphasised the need for Sharaa to reassure Israel, which remains sceptical of his leadership and has repeatedly struck Syrian military targets since his rise to power. The Israeli military has targeted several installations as Sharaa extended control over areas southwest of Damascus.

Mills added that Sharaa must also explain how he intends to deal with the presence of foreign fighters in Syria and address concerns around the treatment of minority groups. In March, reports emerged of mass executions of Alawite civilians — members of Assad’s sect — drawing international condemnation.

Despite lingering tensions, Mills described his meeting with Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani as productive.

“I am cautiously optimistic and look to maintain open dialog,” Mills said.

While several European foreign ministers and a US assistant secretary of state under former President Joe Biden also visited Damascus after Assad’s fall, Sharaa’s past and his consolidation of power continue to raise questions about Syria’s future direction.

By Aghakazim Guliyev