Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said his government aims to restore ties with the United States in the coming days but has not yet had any contact with the Trump administration, according to an interview with The Economist.Sharaa, declared Syria's interim head of state last week, also noted that US troops were in Syria without government approval, adding that any such presence should be agreed with the state. He described US sanctions still imposed on Syria as "the gravest risk" to the country."I believe that President Trump seeks peace in the area, and it is a top priority to lift the sanctions. The United States of America does not have any interest in maintaining the suffering of the Syrian people," Sharaa said in the interview published late on Monday.Sharaa also said Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham's terrorist designation had "become meaningless" following a decision to dissolve all the armed factions that fought Assad.

Within two weeks after their release from captivity, the five female observers who were held hostage by Hamas have asked to resume their IDF service, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.The jointly-made decision reportedly came as a surprise to their families. However, Israeli media reported that the IDF said it was still too early, and that the girls need to rest and recuperate following their year and three months in captivity.Liri Albag, Daniela Gilboa, Karina Ariev, and Naama Levy were released on January 25, followed by Agam Berger on January 30

Hayarkon Street in Tel Aviv has been blocked to traffic near the US Embassy due to a silent protest by "Mishmat 101," a group consisting of mothers and families of hostages, Israeli news reported on Tuesday.

Israel will not oppose the possibility of extending Phase I of the hostage-ceasefire deal, an Israeli source said on Tuesday.This comes after the negotiating team left for Doha to close Phase I and begin negotiations on Phase II.

The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corp's defense systems to Egypt, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Tuesday.The State Department has approved the possible sale of Lockheed's fast missile craft modernization estimated at $625 million and the potential sale of Northrop Grumman's AN/TPS-78 Long Range Radar and related support estimated at $304 million, the agency said in two separate statements.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday it would be fine to put American criminals in prisons in another nation, adding there were countries who will take criminals from the United States.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday described as "very generous" an offer by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele to house dangerous criminals from the United States in his country's jails, and said the Trump administration would have to study it.

Officials have positively identified 66 of the 67 people killed in Wednesday's midair collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River in Washingtom.A joint statement from agencies on Tuesday said all 67 bodies have been recovered. Work continues by the US Army Corps of Engineers to remove the airplane wreckage from the Potomac. Officials plan to begin removing the helicopter wreckage on Wednesday.