In brief
Two Republican lawmakers, Cory Mills and Marlin Stutzman, visit Damascus to discuss Syria's new government and assess post-civil war conditions.
On April 18, 2025, two Republican congressmen, Cory Mills from Florida and Marlin Stutzman from Indiana, landed in Damascus, marking the first visit by American lawmakers to Syria in years. This trip follows Syria’s recent leadership change, signaling a renewed interest from U.S. politics in the war-torn nation. Accompanied by members of the Syrian American community, the congressmen aim to gather insights on the new president, Ahmed al-Shara, and engage with various government ministers. Their itinerary includes meeting with religious leaders, specifically from the Christian minority, as well as exploring historical sites and the suburbs devastated during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war.Additionally, the group plans to visit Sednaya prison, notorious for its brutal treatment of prisoners during the previous regime of Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted last December by a rebel coalition led by al-Shara. The trip was arranged by the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity, emphasizing the importance of fostering U.S. relations with this new Syrian government.
