The brother and uncle of Syrian tyrants, he commanded a unit that killed up to 40,000 civilians in a 1982 uprising against his family’s rule.
New tensions flared a day after a Kurdish-led militia agreed to hand over control of prisons holding some 8,000 Islamic State fighters to the Syrian government.
The nearly 14-year civil war prevented Syrians from traveling freely to many parts of their own country. After the conflict ended a year ago, a group of outdoor enthusiasts began exploring newly accessible areas, fueled by a sense of adventure and hope.
The talks, in Paris, are the latest bid to reduce tensions between two longtime enemies. A deal would help both curry favor with the Trump administration.
After more than a decade of wars, from Syria to Gaza, the Middle East is exhausted by conflict. Is it ready to find another way?
The Syrian government did not comment directly on the extensive U.S. strikes targeting the Islamic State on Friday but said it was intensifying its own efforts to fight the group.
The Caesar Act was imposed in 2019 in response to widespread and systematic violations of human rights by the regime of former dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Critics say Syria’s fledgling government is hobbling military preparedness as it redoes the country’s forces from scratch.
A year ago, rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad, ending decades of dictatorship and civil war. But challenges remain for the new leadership.
The trip comes days before the anniversary of the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and as Lebanon is navigating the cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel.