Angelina Jolie have visited refugees stranded in the blazing desert near the Syrian-Iraqi border and seen the conditions of their living.

Israel is preparing to roll back its military presence on the Syrian border, the Haaretz newspaper said Wednesday. The country has stationed occupation forces on the Golan Heights since seizing them from Syria in the 1967 war, however the Israeli military recently concluded that an armed conflict with Damascus was becoming increasingly unlikely, prompting the partial withdrawal.

Minister of Tourism Saadalla Agha al-Qalaa met on Wednesday secretary general of the Arab-American Trade Affairs Council Zachariah Khalaf, and discussed with him the state of tourism in Syria and its elements.

Ties between Iraq and Syria appear to be warming, as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pursues a second day of high level meetings with top Syrian officials, including President Bashar al Assad. For VOA, Edward Yeranian reports from Beirut.

Amid efforts to garner neighbors' support for curbing violence at home, Iraq's embattled Nouri al-Maliki came to Syria on Monday on his first visit in Damascus.

An international security meeting on Iraq has opened in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The two-day meeting reportedly focusess on ways to better control the Syria-Iraq border.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says Syria has allowed four seriously ill young Palestinians to enter the country to receive urgently needed medical treatment. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNHCR headquarters in Geneva that the young Palestinians are among 1,500 Palestinian refugees stranded for months on the Iraqi side of the border with Syria.

The U.N. Security Council Friday voiced concern about reports of arms smuggling from Syria into Lebanon and also called on the Syrian government to step up security controls along its border with Lebanon. VOA's Suzanne Presto in New York reports the Council also offered support to the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to visit Syria today for talks reportedly aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has asked Israel to publicly declare its intentions for a peace deal. The Syrian leader made the appeal Tuesday as he was sworn-in for a second, seven-year term in office.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resume direct peace negotiations without awaiting U.S. mediation.

Syrian authorities reopened a border crossing with northeastern Lebanon, two weeks after closing it for security reasons.