America Plans to Reopen Its Embassy in Damascus

SadaNews - The Associated Press reported that the United States intends to move forward with plans to reopen its embassy in Damascus after closing it in 2012.

The agency noted that the White House notified Congress on the 10th of this month, informing lawmakers of the State Department's intention to adopt a gradual approach to resume the embassy's operations, with executive actions set to begin within fifteen days without specifying a date for the permanent return of American staff to Damascus.

The U.S. administration has been considering the option of reopening the embassy since last year, specifically shortly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024.

This step has been prioritized on the agenda of Tom Barrack, President Donald Trump's ambassador to Turkey and his special envoy to Syria.

Barrack has sought to establish a close relationship with Syria and its new leadership under Ahmad al-Shara, calling for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and the reintegration of Syria into regional and international communities.

Trump told reporters on Friday that al-Shara "is doing a tremendous job" as president, adding that he is "a tough guy."