Congressman Abraham Hamadeh Engages Syrian Leaders on Humanitarian and Peace Efforts

US Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh undertook a landmark mission in the Middle East this week, making an “unprecedented trip from Jerusalem to Damascus” to meet with Syrian leaders and advance humanitarian and peace initiatives.

During his six-hour visit to Syria, Hamadeh held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. The discussions centered on bringing missing Americans home, creating a secure humanitarian corridor for aid to Suwayda, and encouraging Syria to normalize ties with Israel and join the Abraham Accords.

Syria, in the midst of its transition from the Assad regime’s fall in December 2024 to a new government, remains challenged by internal divisions among Druze, Bedouin, and other communities. Hamadeh’s trip—the first by a US official from Jerusalem to Damascus in decades—underscores Washington’s renewed engagement in the region, echoing the era of US “shuttle diplomacy” led by Henry Kissinger.

While in Israel last week, Hamadeh also met with Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, spiritual leader of Israel’s Druze community, to discuss security concerns and address recent attacks on Druze in Syria. These meetings came amid Israeli airstrikes on Damascus aimed at deterring such attacks.

The Trump administration has stepped up efforts to engage Syria diplomatically. In May, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack was appointed special envoy to Syria, playing a central role in easing sanctions and fostering regional cooperation. Hamadeh, the child of Syrian immigrants with Druze, Kurdish, and Muslim heritage and a former US Army Reserve Intelligence Officer, brings a unique perspective to these discussions.

Hamadeh, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and co-author of the bipartisan Promoting Education on the Abraham Accords for Comprehensive Engagement (PEACE) Act, has emphasized the importance of building a Syria that reflects its ethnic and religious mosaic, ensuring peace and security for all communities, including Christians, Druze, Kurds, and Alawites.

According to The Jerusalem Post’s report, Hamadeh expressed strong support for President Trump’s partial lifting of sanctions on Syria and stressed the need for Congressional oversight to ensure Damascus honors its commitments to the United States.

About The Author

FFN Editor

See author's posts