German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke by phone with French President Emmanuel Macron, and they expressed readiness to cooperate with the new Syrian government if it upholds fundamental human rights and protects ethnic and religious minorities, German cabinet spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told reporters.

"They spoke primarily about the situation in Syria. Both agreed that they are ready to cooperate with the new authorities on the basis of fundamental human rights and the protection of ethnic and religious minorities," he said.

Scholz and Macron noted the importance of preserving Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty, according to the spokesman.

"Both agreed to work together to step up the European Union's engagement in Syria, including support for an inclusive political process in the country. The next steps will be discussed in close coordination with partners in the Middle East," Hebestreit said.

In an other hand, US troops stationed in Syria assisted allied militia units in seizing strategically important positions after the opposition took power in the country, the Washington Post reports.

According to the newspaper’s sources, "the US military, which maintains a force of roughly 800 troops across various locations in eastern Syria, has coordinated and enabled an allied militia to seize strategic territory held for years by Assad and Iran, and encouraged neighboring Iraq to prevent Iranian and Iranian-backed militia forces based there from crossing the border into Syria."

The article says that American military efforts so far have focused on preventing the Islamic State terror group "from taking advantage of the chaos."

Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said earlier that the US did not plan to increase the number of its troops in Syria.

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Sources: News Agency - DiplNet