The newly appointed American special envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack on Thursday, arrived at ambassador’s residence in the Syrian capital on a first official visit by a high ranking US official ever since US shut embassy operations in Syria in 2012.Barrack, tasked with implementing Trump’s policy in the war-torn nation, is also US ambassador to Turkiye, was accompanied by the Syrian foreign minister on his visit. According to Syrian news agency SANA, he is visiting the city to inaugurate the official residence of the US ambassador. Signaling a thaw in the frosty relations between both nations, the US flag was hoisted outside of the long-shuttered official envoy house in Damascus. Washington is yet to formally reopen its embassy in Syria, which halted operations over a decade ago, against the brutal crackdown of the protests against the government of long time ruler of Bashar al-Assad, turning into a civil war. The US is biding time in view of the new Syrian leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former leader of a Islamist insurgent outfit which is still on the American list of terrorist organisations. However, in recent weeks, the Trump administration, with a nudge from regional allies Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, has begun showing a growing willingness to engage with Damascus.The visit by Barrack also comes in the aftermath of the surprise meeting between US President Trump and al-Sharaa in Riyadh earlier this month. It was followed by rolling back of crippling sanctions slapped by Washington on Syria under Assad’s reign. The US State Department posted a statement on X on Thursday attributed to Trump announcing Barrack’s appointment as envoy to Syria.“Tom understands there is great potential in working with Syria to stop Radicalism, improve Relations, and secure Peace in the Middle East. Together, we will Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” the statement said.Barrack thanked Trump in an X post for “your bold vision, empowering a historically rich region, long oppressed, to reclaim its destiny through self-determination.”
