By Olatunbosun Obafemi
For the first time in over a decade, the American flag was raised in Damascus as newly appointed U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack inaugurated the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, signaling a major shift in U.S.–Syria relations.
The ceremony, attended by Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, marks the restoration of diplomatic ties severed in 2012 following the outbreak of Syria’s civil war.
Barrack’s arrival comes just six months after the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of Ahmed al-Shara’a as Syria’s new leader. His appointment followed a meeting between President Donald Trump and al-Shara’a in Riyadh.
Before arriving in Damascus, Barrack—also U.S. Ambassador to Turkey—visited Riyadh and Amman as part of renewed U.S. engagement in the region.
In a related development, Syrian authorities recently intercepted a shipment of Iranian Grad rockets allegedly headed to Hezbollah in Lebanon. It’s one of several smuggling attempts thwarted by the new Syrian government, reflecting a shift away from past alliances.
The flag-raising marks a symbolic but significant step in reshaping regional diplomacy and security.
