Damascus, Syria: Iran's president is traveling to Syria this week for talks amid rising tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours and US efforts to break up Damascus' alliance with Tehran.
Syria's state-run news agency and Palestinian officials said Tuesday that President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad will arrive in Syria on Thursday and will meet with top Syrian leaders as well as senior officials from the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
Ahmadinejad's visit comes as the US announced the nomination of a career diplomat to become the first US ambassador to Damascus since 2005 and lifted an advisory on security concerns in Syria.
Washington's overtures to Syria, a close ally of Iran, coincide with rising US tension with Tehran.
