A rare occurrence took place as a high-level delegation from the United States made a visit to the rebel-held area in northwestern Syria. This marks the first such visit in six years, harking back to when a delegation of US Congress members, led by the late Senator John McCain, journeyed to Syria.The delegation, comprising three members of the US Republican Party from Congress—namely, Ben Cline, Scott Fitzgerald, and French Hill—arrived on Sunday. Their mission was to draw attention to the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
Crossing the Bab al-Salameh border crossing from Turkey, the American representatives spent around 30 minutes on Syrian soil. Celine Kasem, associated with the Syrian Emergency Task Force, an advocacy and humanitarian organization based in Washington, DC, orchestrated the visit. She conveyed that the delegates were warmly received by orphaned children from a kindergarten in northern Aleppo. Congressman French Hill’s community in Arkansas has extended support to this kindergarten for years. During their short visit, the delegates also engaged with internally displaced Syrians, opposition figures, and aid workers.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), the population in northwestern Syria has exceeded 4.5 million, with approximately 1.9 million individuals residing in displacement camps. These camps have become home to many Syrians who sought refuge from the prolonged 12-year conflict involving President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, his allies, and opposing forces.
Celine Kasem shared that the children they met spoke about their harrowing experiences living under constant bombardment from Assad’s forces, Iran, and Russia. This unrelenting violence led to their displacement and the tragic loss of their families, rendering them orphans.
This visit stands as a notable event, as it is the first of its kind since 2017, when another congressional delegation, led by the late Senator John McCain, ventured into Syria. Senator McCain was a staunch advocate of US military aid to the Syrian opposition during the conflict.
Recent diplomatic activities have also been unfolding. The opposition’s “provisional government” disclosed a meeting between its leader, Abdurrahman Mustafa, and Nicholas Granger, the US State Department’s envoy to north and east Syria, in Turkey. The discussions centered around the political, military, and economic situations in areas liberated from pro-al-Assad forces.
Riyad al-Khatib, hailing from the city of Mare in the Aleppo governorate, expressed surprise at the American delegation’s unexpected visit. He noted that this comes after years of hiatus following the cessation of military support to opposition factions in 2017. The US had initiated support for Syrian opposition factions in 2013, which was later curtailed during the tenure of former President Donald Trump in 2017. Subsequently, the focus shifted to backing the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) located in eastern Syria. The SDF played a pivotal role in countering the armed group ISIL (ISIS) and supporting opposition factions near the Syrian-Jordanian border.
Al-Khatib emphasized the need for regular visits to the region, not only by the United States but also by European Union nations, to assess the humanitarian situation. The region continues to bear the brunt of bombardment from various forces, including the Assad regime, Russia, Iran, and at times, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
Recent developments have also seen the US Department of the Treasury imposing sanctions on three leaders of the Syrian National Army, formerly known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), in northwestern Syria. The likes of Mohammed al-Jassim, Saif Bolad Abu Bakr, and Ahmed al-Hayes faced sanctions due to their alleged involvement in human rights violations against residents.
These sanctions were seen as a message to Ankara about its association with these faction leaders and groups. Experts, like Turki Mustafa, a political analyst and historian from southern Aleppo, interpreted these sanctions as a move to compel Turkey to revise its strategy in the region. Additionally, these actions align with broader US military considerations in the Middle East.
While the primary purpose of the congressional delegates’ visit was to assess the living conditions in northwestern Syria, it is speculated to also signal the US vision for de-escalation between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army. This perspective gains significance, particularly in the context of ongoing discussions about potentially closing the Syrian-Iraqi border to Iranian militias.
COMMENTS