US top diplomat Rubio meets Syrian counterpart; discuss Israel, human rights

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Turkey on Thursday, the State Department said in a statement.

"(Rubio) welcomed the Syrian government’s calls for peace with Israel, efforts to end Iran’s influence in Syria, commitment to ascertaining the fate of U.S. citizens missing or killed in Syria, and elimination of all chemical weapons," the department said.

"The Secretary underscored the critical importance of protecting the human rights of all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religion," the department said.