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.

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