In brief
In a significant moment for U.S.-Syria relations, Republican Congressmen Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman traveled to Damascus, marking the first visit by American lawmakers in years. Their mission focused on understanding the country's turmoil and new governance under President Ahmed al-Shara.
On April 18, 2025, two Republican congressmen, Cory Mills of Florida and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, arrived in Damascus, Syria, signifying a poignant shift in U.S. attention to the nation following its long-standing civil war. This trip is the first of its kind in years, and it reflects the Republican Party's growing vigil toward Syria’s evolving political landscape.Accompanied by members of the Syrian diaspora, the congressmen's visit serves as a fact-finding mission, aiming to meet with Syria's new leadership—particularly President Ahmed al-Shara—and various government ministers. The congressmen are scheduled to connect with religious leaders, including representatives from the country's Christian minority, as they tour significant sites in historic Damascus, alongside areas devastated by the civil war that lasted nearly 14 years.A notable part of their itinerary includes a visit to Sednaya prison, notorious for the incarceration and torture of thousands under the regime of now-ousted President Bashar al-Assad. This trip was organized by the Indiana-based Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, an organization that seeks to foster better relations between the U.S. and Syria’s new administration. Dr. Tarek Kteleh, a member of the alliance and travelling with the congressmen, expressed the importance of the visit in revealing a path toward constructive engagement with Syria following years of conflict.
