US Envoy Visits Damascus Amid Thawing Ties with Syria
Damascus – On Thursday, the United States’ new envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, made a notable visit to Damascus, as reported by state media. This visit signals a warming of relations between the US and Syria following the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad.
In recent months, the US has been working to rebuild its diplomatic ties with Syria, marking the end of over ten years of isolation. Barrack, who also serves as the ambassador to Turkey, officially opened the US ambassador’s residence in the Syrian capital alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani, according to SANA, Syria’s state news agency.
US flags were seen being raised at the new residence, located just a short distance from the US embassy in the Abu Rummaneh neighborhood, with security tightly enforced.
President Trump expressed optimism about Barrack’s role, stating, “Tom understands there is great potential in working with Syria to stop Radicalism, improve Relations, and secure Peace in the Middle East,” via a post on the State Department’s social media.
The US had closed its embassy in Syria following Assad’s violent crackdown on protests that began in 2011 and led to a devastating civil war.
Prior to this visit, Barrack met with interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on May 24, after the US lifted some sanctions against Syria. This meeting came after a previous discussion between Trump and Sharaa in Riyadh.
Robert Ford was the last US ambassador to Syria before he was declared unwelcome in 2011 for visiting Hama, where significant anti-regime protests were taking place.
In December, a US delegation led by Barbara Leaf engaged in initial talks with new Syrian leadership, hinting at a possible shift in relations.
