GOP Reps Visit Damascus After Assad’s Fall

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Full Story

Two U.S. Republican Representatives, Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman, traveled to Damascus, Syria, yesterday, marking the first visit by U.S. legislators since the Assad regime collapsed in December. Their unofficial trip, facilitated by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Development, included meetings with local leaders and tours of war-damaged areas. This visit signals a potential shift in U.S.-Syria engagement following years of conflict.

The representatives met with Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, earlier today. Their discussion focused on the region’s recovery needs after years of civil war.

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The Context

Mills and Stutzman toured parts of Damascus heavily damaged during Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011. The conflict left much of the city’s infrastructure in ruins, with rebuilding efforts only recently starting.

The lawmakers also met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss post-war governance. Sharaa assumed power after the Assad regime’s fall, a major turning point in Syria’s history.

The Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Development, a nonprofit, organized the trip. Its mission emphasizes fostering dialogue between Syrian communities and international stakeholders.

Syria’s civil war, sparked by anti-government protests, displaced millions and killed hundreds of thousands. The Assad regime’s collapse ended a decades-long authoritarian rule.

Some view such visits as steps toward stabilizing Syria through diplomacy. Others argue they risk legitimizing a fragile new government too soon.

Supporters of U.S. engagement hope for economic aid and reconstruction support. Critics worry about entanglement in Syria’s complex political landscape without clear U.S. interests.