Hostage envoy Roger Carstens is in Syria making the first known in-person U.S. in-person contact with the caretaker government and seeking help in finding missing American Austin Tice.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been on perhaps his last Middle East diplomatic mission as America’s top diplomat this week.

The Pentagon announced the US currently has “approximately 2,000” troops in Syria, more than double the previously disclosed number of 900, a Defense Department spokesperson said at a press briefing on Thursday.

In Jordan to meet regional counterparts, US top diplomat doesn't go into detail about contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebel group that ousted Assad

Top diplomats from the United States, the Arab League and Turkey have met in Jordan to discuss Syria’s transition after the fall of Bashar Assad's government last weekend.

Western and Arab states along with Turkey jointly voiced support for a united, peaceful Syria. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously noted that world leaders discussed "the need for an inclusive, Syrian-led political transition" during the Aqaba Meetings on Syria in Jordan on Dec. 14.

King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan received Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with Arab and foreign ministers and international officials participating in the Aqaba ministerial meetings on Syria held today in Aqaba.

Russia is pulling back its military from northern Syria and posts in the Alawite Mountains but is not leaving its two main bases, four Syrian officials told Reuters.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi affirmed Saturday Amman’s support for Syria during its rebuilding phase after years of killing, destruction and displacement. Safadi condemned Israel's incursions into Syria, warning that they would "will only complicate matters."

The leader of the rebel forces group that took back Damascus from Bashar al-Assad will now rule without fear of a $10 million bounty the U.S. had on him.