A delegation from the United States Congress visited areas in northwestern Syria on Sunday, marking the first such visit in nearly a decade.
According to local media sources, the congressional delegation included three members, among them Republican Party representative French Hill.
The delegation was accompanied by Badr Jamous, the head of the Syrian Negotiation Commission. This visit was organized and facilitated by the Syrian Emergency Task Force and aimed at fostering a connection with civil society organizations in northwestern Syria.
During their visit, the delegation met with various civil society groups and also visited the Dar Al Hekma Garden.
It’s noteworthy that the last visit by US congressional representatives to Syria was conducted by Republican Senator John McCain, during which he met with leaders of the Free Syrian Army in the city of Azaz.
He was accompanied by Maaz Mustafa, the director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, at that time.
The delegation’s interactions with local organizations and communities could have implications for future policy decisions related to the region.
Since the beginning of the 2011 uprising turned civil war in Syria, the U.S. government has backed the opposition and has imposed sanctions on Assad’s government and associates over human rights concerns.
Washington has conditioned restoring relations with Damascus on progress toward a political solution to the 12-year conflict.
