Damascus: The United States formally reinstated its diplomatic presence in Syria on Thursday, with newly-appointed U.S. envoy Thomas Barrack raising the American flag over the ambassador’s residence in Damascus for the first time since 2012. The move comes amid a significant thaw in relations following Washington’s unexpected policy shift under President Donald Trump.
Barrack, who also serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkey, described the visit as a pivotal moment and expressed optimism about achieving peace between Syria and Israel. In his remarks to a small group of journalists, he praised the Islamist-led Syrian government and emphasized its willingness to engage in dialogue.
“Syria and Israel is a solvable problem. But it starts with a dialogue,” Barrack stated. “I’d say we need to start with just a non-aggression agreement, talk about boundaries and borders.”
The symbolic flag-raising highlights a rapid acceleration in U.S.-Syria ties, following Trump’s surprise announcement of sanctions relief and his landmark meeting with Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander, has overseen a dramatic pivot in Syrian foreign policy, moving away from decades-long alliances with Iran and Russia and signaling openness to re-engaging with the West.
Barrack also announced a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Damascus. He declared that Syria would no longer be considered a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation it held for decades.
“America’s intent and the president’s vision is that we have to give this young government a chance by not interfering, not demanding, by not giving conditions, by not imposing our culture on your culture,” Barrack said.
He acknowledged that the U.S. Congress still has a six-month review period before fully lifting the terrorism designation and repealing key sanctions. Among the most punitive measures were those under the 2020 Caesar Act, which Barrack said must be rolled back within 180 days.
“I promise you the one person who has less patience with these sanctions than all of you is President Trump,” Barrack added.
Sharaa’s rise to power marked a dramatic break from Syria’s past. His government replaced that of Bashar al-Assad, who clung to power for over a decade amid a brutal civil war. The conflict, sparked by anti-government protests in 2011, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions.
Though Israel has long viewed Syria as a hostile neighbor—especially due to the occupation of the Golan Heights since the 1967 war—there are signs of tentative progress. Following Assad’s ouster in December, Israel seized more border territory, citing concerns over Syria’s new leadership and its jihadist past.
However, diplomatic channels are beginning to open. According to a Reuters report earlier this week, Israeli and Syrian officials have already held direct, face-to-face meetings aimed at reducing tensions and avoiding further conflict along the border.
President Trump reportedly encouraged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel during their meeting in Riyadh earlier this month, reinforcing the administration’s broader push for Middle East stabilization.
The U.S. embassy in Damascus had been shuttered since February 2012, after then-Ambassador Robert Ford was withdrawn in response to escalating violence during the Syrian uprising. For over a decade, American envoys operated from outside the country, and official contact with Damascus was virtually nonexistent.
Now, with a new government in power and Washington signaling a willingness to engage without preconditions, the door appears open for a dramatic reshaping of U.S.-Syria relations—and potentially, a historic peace with Israel.
