Basically, Syria is trying to get a bunch of people into Damascus, especially Americans, so they can be a kind of human shield against an Israeli invasion. (Syria is well aware of the Israeli-American friendship and would love to be able to drive a wedge between the two.) I imagine the Americans that go there will end up being full-blown hostages by the time this is done. I'm glad you didn't fall for it.
I doubt that. Syria is probably planning for the next war. Since Iran doesn't have nukes yet, they are trying to bide their time. This doesn't mean that Syria isn't behind all of this, they probably are. They are trying to divide our forces and sow uncertainty. In reality, NK, Iran, and Syria are probably all working in concert.
Syria will let Americans pass through, but will probably give some incentives to stay, for future use. If Israel invades, Syria will survive since Israel is not large enough to support an occupying force (Syria and Iran combined have 12 times the population of Israel). The only power Syria really has to fear in the Middle East is the US. Only by making the US withdraw its interests from the Middle East will Syria ever be able to destroy Israel.