The United States and Syria held a series of meetings this week, signaling a possible thaw between the two countries as the former seeks to peel the latter from its close ties with Iran.

No further meetings are planned between the two sides, said several senior State Department officials, who downplayed the expectations of a major breakthrough.

“You can’t tell yet,” one of the officials said. “It gave us a chance to raise our concerns directly, but the results will depend on what we see on the ground.”

What’s “on the ground?”

Why Syrian’s flexing its muscles and threatening Lebanon.

And as far as peeling Syria away from Iran. Good luck with that.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.