U.S. Lawmaker to Syria: Unity Requires Protecting 'Ethnic and Religious Mosaic'
During a historic trip to Damascus, U.S. Congressman Hamadeh told Syrian President al-Sharaa that unifying Syria requires protecting its minorities, including Kurds. He also discussed returning Kayla Mueller's body and urging normalization with Israel.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In a direct and powerful message delivered during a historic visit to Damascus, United States Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh has advised Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that the only path to establishing a unified and stable Syria is for his government to provide genuine peace and security for all of its people, specifically including the nation’s Christian, Druze, Kurds, Alawite, and other minority communities.
According to an official press release issued on August 10, 2025, the Congressman asserted that this inclusive approach is the sole way to build a new Syria that is truly reflective of its rich "ethnic and religious mosaic."
The groundbreaking trip, which marks the first time an American official has shuttled between Jerusalem and Damascus in decades, was undertaken by Congressman Hamadeh as an "emissary of the Peace Through Strength agenda."
During the six-hour visit, the Arizona Republican, who is also a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, met with both President al-Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. The press release stated that in the meeting, Congressman Hamadeh "strongly emphasized the need for Syria to course correct in light of recent tragic events."
While the call for minority rights formed the core of his political message for Syria's future, the Congressman's agenda also covered several other critical issues.
A central focus of his discussions was his continuing efforts to secure the return of the body of Kayla Mueller, an American humanitarian aid worker from his home state of Arizona who was abducted by terrorists in Aleppo in 2013. Congressman Hamadeh has made this a deeply personal mission, having taken his oath of office in January 2025 on her family’s Bible in a ceremony attended by her parents, Carl and Marsha Mueller.
In addition to this specific humanitarian case, the Congressman advocated for the establishment of a secure humanitarian corridor to ensure the safe delivery of medical and humanitarian aid to the southern Syrian city of Sweida.
He also advanced a broader diplomatic vision for the country, broaching the need for Syria to attain normalization with Israel and ultimately join the Abraham Accords, the series of landmark agreements between Israel and several Arab nations.
The press release also addressed the complex issue of U.S. sanctions.
Congressman Hamadeh expressed his support for President Donald J. Trump’s decision to lift some sanctions in order to assist the Syrian people and their new government in the monumental task of rebuilding their country.
However, he was firm in his belief that the U.S. Congress must play a key oversight role in this process to ensure that the Syrian government is upholding its commitments to the United States. To that end, the Congressman and his staff have reportedly engaged in interagency efforts to ascertain an accurate picture of the situation on the ground in Syria.
The press release also noted his support for the "strong leadership" of Ambassador and Special Envoy Tom Barrack in the Levant.
A member of the influential House Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, Congressman Hamadeh is described as being committed to President Trump’s "Peace Through Strength" agenda by shaping an "America First" foreign policy.
His legislative work includes co-authoring the bipartisan Promoting Education on the Abraham Accords for Comprehensive Engagement (PEACE) Act, which aims to institutionalize training on normalization agreements within the U.S. State Department.
