Former US official calls shift in relations with Syria ‘surreal’ A former US State Department advisor on Syria tells Al Jazeera’s ‘This is America’ the improved relationshipShare this: Syria arrests five former al-Assad-era officers over strikes on civiliansDateSeptember 18, 2026In relation toAl-JazeeraSyria holds legislative elections in former Kurdish-controlled areasDateMay 24, 2026In relation toAl-JazeeraLebanon ‘detains’ former al-Assad-era general, weighs handing him to SyriaDateAugust 8, 2026In relation toAl-Jazeera