U.S. congressional delegation visits Syria for the first time since regime fall

DARAMSUQ (Damascus), Syria — In an remarkable visit, a U.S. Congressional delegation arrived in Daramsuq (Damascus) to meet with Syria’s transitional leadership and civil society representatives. This marks the first visit of its kind since the fall of the previous Syrian regime. 

The delegation, composed of Republican Congress members Marlin Stutzman and Cory Mills, aimed to assess the situation in Syria and engage with key stakeholders. During their visit, Mills held a 90-minute meeting with Syrian Transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa, where they discussed U.S. sanctions and Iran’s influence in the region. 

The delegation also met with Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and honorary president of the Middle East Council of Churches, at the patriarchate in Bab Touma, Daramsuq (Damascus). The discussions focused on the current challenges facing Syrians, the church’s role in providing essential services, and the importance of safeguarding the rights of all Syrian citizens while fostering national unity and social harmony. 

I was pleased to receive US Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman in Damascus to discuss the current situation in Syria. They were accompanied by HE Mrs. Hend Kabawat, Syrian Minister for Social Affairs and Labor and a delegation from the “Syrian American Alliance for Peace… pic.twitter.com/gVIP8zDHAO

— Mor Aphrem II (@MorAphremII) April 18, 2025

Additionally, the delegation toured the war-ravaged Jobar neighborhood in Daramsuq (Damascus) to witness firsthand the extent of destruction caused by years of conflict. 

This visit underscores a potential shift in U.S.-Syria relations, as American lawmakers seek to better understand the realities on the ground and explore avenues for future engagement.