Importance Score: 82 / 100 🟢
DAMASCUS, Syria – In a notable development, two Republican members of the U.S. Congress conducted an unofficial visit to the Syrian capital on Friday. This trip, facilitated by a Syrian-American non-profit organization, marks the first such visit by U.S. legislators to Syria since the ousting of former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December.
Concurrently on Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas engaged in a meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. This visit represents Abbas’s first to Syria since Assad’s ousting and the commencement of the Syrian uprising, which evolved into a civil war in 2011.
Congressional Visit Details
Representatives Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Cory Mills of Florida, the Republican members of U.S. Congress, toured Jobar, a suburb of Damascus. Jobar is the location of a historic synagogue, extensively damaged and looted during the civil conflict. They also visited Bab Touma, a Christian neighborhood, where they held discussions with Christian religious leaders. Meetings with President al-Sharaa and additional government officials were also scheduled.
U.S. Policy and Sanctions
The U.S. administration has not formally acknowledged the present Syrian government, currently led by al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa, identified as an Islamist former insurgent, spearheaded the offensive that resulted in Assad’s removal from power. Furthermore, Washington has maintained stringent sanctions, initially implemented during Assad’s governance, and has not yet rescinded them.
Representative Mills, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated to The Associated Press that the visit was essential “to witness firsthand the situation, engage with various governmental bodies, assess the needs of the Syrian populace, and evaluate the requirements for national stability in Syria.”
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Mills anticipated that discussions with President al-Sharaa would encompass the topic of sanctions, alongside the government’s priorities and the imperative for the transitional administration to progress towards a “democratically elected society.”
He clarified, “Ultimately, the decision regarding the lifting of sanctions rests with the president,” while acknowledging that “Congress can offer counsel.”
Visit Organizer
The congressional delegation’s visit was facilitated by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, an Indiana-based non-profit organization. The alliance defines its objective as promoting “a sustainable political, economic, and social partnership between the people of Syria and the United States.”
Hind Kabawat, Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, the sole woman and Christian member of the transitional government, accompanied the congressional team during their visit to Bab Touma. She emphasized that the visit held “significant importance” for Syrians.
State Department Warning
Simultaneously, the U.S. State Department released a statement on Friday, reaffirming its advisory against travel to Syria for U.S. citizens. The statement indicated that the State Department “is monitoring credible intelligence concerning potential impending attacks, potentially targeting locations frequented by tourists.”
Palestinian Leader’s Visit Amidst Ongoing Regional Tensions
According to Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, President Abbas’s visit, his first since 2007, was “intended to bolster Palestinian-Syrian relations and address critical regional developments.”
Discussions on Regional Issues
Reports indicate that President Abbas and President al-Sharaa deliberated on the current conflict in Gaza and international initiatives to revitalize long-stalled endeavors aimed at achieving a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They reportedly “agreed to establish joint committees to enhance bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors.”
Palestinian Refugees in Syria
Syria is home to approximately 450,000 Palestinian refugees. The Yarmouk refugee camp, situated outside Damascus, was formerly regarded as the center of the Palestinian diaspora before facing extensive destruction during the civil war.
Palestinian refugees in Syria have not been granted citizenship, purportedly to maintain their entitlement to return to their original homes, from which they were displaced during the establishment of Israel in 1948. In contrast to neighboring Lebanon, where Palestinians face restrictions on property ownership and employment in numerous professions, Palestinians in Syria historically possessed all citizen rights, excluding voting and holding public office.
Syria-Israel Relations and Regional Security
Syria and Israel do not maintain diplomatic relations. Despite public declarations from the new Syrian authorities indicating no intention to engage in conflict with Israel, the Israeli government views the current Islamist former insurgents in power in Damascus with apprehension.
Following Assad’s ousting, Israeli forces occupied a U.N.-patrolled buffer zone within Syria and have initiated a substantial series of airstrikes targeting military installations in Syria. Israeli officials have declared their intent to prevent the new Syrian military from establishing a presence south of Damascus.