The American flag was raised at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on May 29 for the first time in more than a decade, marking a symbolic shift in Washington’s relationship with Syria.
Thomas Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and newly appointed special envoy to Syria, led the ceremony alongside Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani. The U.S. flag has not flown in the capital since the U.S. Embassy suspended operations in February 2012 during Syria’s civil war.
Barrack called the moment historic and expressed optimism that peace between Syria and Israel was possible.
“Syria and Israel is a solvable problem. But it starts with a dialogue,” he told reporters in Damascus, suggesting the two countries could begin with a non-aggression pact.
The U.S. Department of State did not respond by publication time to questions from The Epoch Times about whether the embassy would reopen or when full diplomatic services might resume in Syria.
The ceremony followed a series of rapid policy moves that reversed long-standing U.S. sanctions.
Barrack, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, said the president’s vision was to give Syria’s new leadership a chance.
“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.
The U.S. designated Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979. Barrack said that label no longer applies with the Assad regime removed from power, but he noted that Congress has six months to review the change.
Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda affiliate commander, came to power after former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024.
Since December 2024, Syria’s new transitional government, led by HTS leader Sharaa, has sought to consolidate its political authority.
The bounty was lifted after Assad was ousted. Sharaa has since moved to distance his government from jihadist groups and has met directly with Trump in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“The cessation of sanctions against Syria will advance our primary objective: the enduring defeat of ISIS by giving the people of Syria a chance for a better future,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
Barrack, who visited Syrian leadership earlier this month in Istanbul, said Washington is now focused on encouraging private investment and supporting regional partners in rebuilding the Syrian economy. He also praised Syrian steps toward addressing terrorism, repatriating foreign fighters, and managing detention facilities in northeastern Syria.
The Biden and Obama administrations previously held firm to sanctions and diplomatic isolation throughout the 14-year conflict, during which hundreds of thousands died and millions were displaced.
