First American delegation lands in Damascus since Islamist-led offensive toppled former president
The visit was coordinated by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, a Washington-based advocacy group seeking to promote engagement with Syria’s evolving political establishment.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – In a historic diplomatic gesture, two United States Congressmen arrived in the Syrian capital on Friday, marking the first visit by American lawmakers since Bashar al-Assad was ousted by an Islamist-led rebel offensive in December.
The high-profile visit signals a tentative engagement between Washington and Syria’s new leadership, amid regional recalibrations and continued international sanctions.
The visiting delegates according to the New York Times, Representatives Cory Mills of Florida and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana—both Republicans and allies of U.S. President Donald Trump—landed in Damascus to meet with Syrian officials, tour war-ravaged neighborhoods, and assess the political and security landscape of the post-Assad era.
Mills, a member of the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, held a 90-minute meeting with Syria’s newly-appointed President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday evening, the two discussed the enduring U.S. sanctions on Syria and the role of Iran in the country’s affairs.
The visit was coordinated by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, a Washington-based advocacy group seeking to promote engagement with Syria’s evolving political establishment. While in Damascus, the two congressmen visited several Christian religious leaders and inspected neighborhoods that still bear the scars of war. Additional meetings with Syrian ministers are also on their itinerary.
The Trump administration has so far maintained a limited posture towards the new government in Damascus. However, last month Washington presented a conditional framework for partial sanctions relief, demanding, among other points, the removal of foreign fighters from Syrian leadership positions.
Damascus has responded by urging the US and European Union to fully lift economic sanctions, arguing that a robust economic recovery is essential for rebuilding a state torn by years of war and foreign intervention.
State Department Urges Americans to Avoid Syria
Despite the visit, the United States Department of State continues to maintain its highest-level travel advisory for Syria. The Level 4: Do Not Travel warning remains in effect due to “significant risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage-taking, armed conflict, and unjust detention.” The advisory underscores that no part of Syria should be considered safe from violence.
The State Department has tracked credible intelligence indicating possible imminent attacks in areas frequently visited by tourists, including public gatherings, hotels, religious sites, schools, parks, and transportation hubs. According to the advisory, potential methods of attack include bombings, armed assaults, and suicide operations, often with little or no warning.
The United States Embassy in Damascus suspended operations in 2012, and the US government remains unable to provide routine or emergency consular services in Syria. The Czech Republic, through its embassy in Damascus, serves as the protecting power for US interests in the country. American citizens in Syria are urged to leave immediately and are advised to maintain a low profile, avoid large gatherings, and prepare for potential emergencies.
