US diplomats have visited Syria for the first time since the US closed its embassy in Damascus in 2012. This visit marks a significant diplomatic mission aimed at addressing key issues in the region. The primary focus of the discussions was the search for Austin Tice, a freelance journalist abducted in 2012 while reporting on Syria's civil war. The urgency of this search has increased following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The meeting also involved discussions with leaders of HTS, the group currently in control of Syria, who have pledged to protect minority groups and prevent Syria from being used as a base for jihadist attacks on Western targets or neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes, with aid groups calling for increased humanitarian assistance as food, medicine, and clean water remain scarce.