US lawmakers propose bill to prevent normalization with Syria's Assad regime.

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced a bill to prevent the American government from recognizing Bashar al-Assad as Syria's president and to enhance Washington's ability to impose sanctions. The bill would prohibit the government from recognizing or normalizing relations with any Syrian government led by Assad and expands on the Caesar Act, which imposed a tough round of sanctions on Syria in 2020. The proposed legislation comes after Arab states turned the page on years of confrontation with Assad on Sunday by allowing Syria back into the Arab League, a milestone in his regional rehabilitation even as the West continues shunning him after years of civil war.