US flag raised in Damascus as envoy declares new chapter in Syria ties
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This visit marks the first senior-level US engagement on Syrian soil since the outbreak of the crisis, which led to the closure of the US embassy and the withdrawal of then-Ambassador Robert Ford.
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US Special Envoy Tom Barrack is pictured hoisting the American flag over the US ambassador's residence in Damascus, Syria (SANA)
US Special Envoy Tom Barrack arrived in Damascus on Thursday, where he was received by Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa at the Presidential Palace. During the visit, Barrack raised the American flag over the US ambassador's residence, a symbolic restoration of American diplomatic presence in Syria for the first time since 2012.
This visit marks the first senior-level US engagement on Syrian soil since the outbreak of the crisis, which led to the closure of the US embassy and the withdrawal of then-Ambassador Robert Ford. Since then, US policy on Syria has been conducted from abroad.
Speaking to reporters, Barrack signaled a new American approach rooted in diplomacy, not intervention. "Syria and Israel is a solvable problem. But it starts with a dialogue," he said. "I'd say we need to start with just a non-aggression agreement, talk about boundaries and borders."
He also revealed that President Donald Trump intends to remove Syria from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, as part of a broader recalibration of US policy. "The Trump administration's intent is to give Syria a chance at success by not intervening," Barrack said.
US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack is joined by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani as he raises the American flag in the ambassador's residence in Damascus.
, Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) May 29, 2025
📸: SANA pic.twitter.com/s0Pu27hSD0
Fragile Rebirth
The announcement comes on the heels of the United States lifting its sanctions on Syria, a move intended to foster reconstruction and support the country's political transition after the fall of the Assad government. Barrack added: "The US military brilliantly accomplished 99 percent of anti-ISIS mission in Syria."
Yet, despite the overtures of peace and normalization, reports of ongoing violence persist, particularly targeting vulnerable groups such as Alawites, Christians, and Druze. In recent months, rights groups have documented massacres and forced displacements in contested regions, casting doubt on the stability of the current transitional period.
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda leader, has pledged to steer the country toward inclusive governance, but the fragile security situation suggests that any talk of renewal must grapple with these on-the-ground realities.
Read more: 1,018 killed in ongoing massacres against minorities in Syria's coast
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Barrack wrote: "Syria's tragedy was born in division. Its rebirth must come through dignity, unity, and investment in its people."
"That starts with truth, accountability, and working with the region, not around it," he added.
"With the fall of the Assad regime, the door is open to peace, by eliminating sanctions we are enabling the Syrian people to finally open that door and discover a path to renewed prosperity and security," further said.
A century ago, the West imposed maps, mandates, penciled borders, and foreign rule. Sykes-Picot divided Syria and the broader region for imperial gain, not peace. That mistake cost generations. We will not make it again.
, Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) May 25, 2025
The era of Western interference is over. The future…
