US Republican Congressman Ibrahim Hamadeh met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shar during a short visit to Damascus, coming directly from Israel after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamadeh, a former US Army intelligence reserve officer, stated that he visited as an envoy for the “Peace by Strength” agenda to discuss the return of Kayla Mueller’s body to her family in Arizona. He emphasized the need to establish a safe humanitarian corridor to deliver medical and humanitarian aid to Sweida, stressed the importance of correcting Syria’s course in light of recent tragic events, and expressed continued support for former President Donald Trump’s decision to lift some sanctions to help the Syrian people and their new government. However, he believes Congress must play a pivotal role to ensure the Syrian government fulfills its commitments to the United States.