Overview

• German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser and Austrian counterpart Gerhard Karner canceled their planned visit to Damascus due to specific terrorist threats.
• The trip was intended to address security concerns and explore the conditions for the return of Syrian refugees, including the deportation of serious offenders.
• The decision was made after late-night consultations in Amman, following warnings from German security agencies.
• Syria's transitional government under Ahmed al-Scharaa faces ongoing instability, with threats from various factions complicating international engagement.
• Germany recently reopened its embassy in Damascus, but the precarious security environment continues to limit broader diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.