Overview
- Sharaa, who met President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday, was slated to see Chancellor Friedrich Merz for talks on the Middle East war, rebuilding Syria and refugee returns.
- Germany’s interior ministry announced support for Syria’s disaster management ministry and new training for Syrian emergency services ahead of the visit.
- Police registered large rallies in Berlin both for and against the trip, and the Kurdish community group KGD accused Sharaa of human rights violations and war crimes.
- Merz has argued Syrians no longer qualify for asylum, and Germany resumed deporting convicted criminals to Syria in December on a limited basis.
- Violence and instability persist in Syria, with active Islamic State cells and frequent Israeli strikes from the Golan Heights complicating any plans for safe return.