RNA - "By this visit, the US has clearly admitted that Assad will remain in power until further notice," the Arabic-language al-Ray al-Youm wrote on Sunday.
Noting that the visit was made at the US demand and coordinated by the Lebanese sides close to both Damascus and Washington, it added, "The US and its allies have spent billions of dollars and used thousands of tons of modern weapons to overthrow the Damascus government militarily in the past 7 years and now one of their security officials makes a surprise visit to Syria."
According to the Arab daily, although the contents of the meeting and the message that the US official conveyed to the Syrian leader have been kept secret, certain reports said that Syria’s National Security Chief Ali Mamlouk has protested at the American forces' deployment in Syria, calling it "occupation".
A senior regional official close to Damascus said that the trip was the highest level visit to Syria by a US official since the start of the war in 2011.
The Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar first reported the visit on Friday, saying that the US official discussed security matters.
The regional official did not name the US official who met Ali Mamlouk. "It is an important step, but Damascus does not have confidence in the American position."
The US official traveled to Damascus via Lebanon.
The United States has supported the terrorists and opposition to President Assad during the Syrian war.
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