The Trump administration has advanced diplomatic normalization with Syria’s transitional government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa following the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad, including removal of Syria from the state sponsors of terrorism list in August 2026 and an October 1, 2026, change to International Traffic in Arms Regulations allowing case-by-case defense trade reviews. Special Envoy Tom Barrack raised the U.S. flag at the ambassador’s residence in Damascus in May 2025 and has prioritized rapprochement, while a February 2026 congressional notification outlined a phased State Department plan to resume embassy operations closed since 2012. Full reopening remains pending security assessments, congressional processes, and further stabilization steps such as Syria’s recent integration into the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. Upcoming bilateral meetings and sanctions relief implementation could accelerate or delay resumption of full embassy functions.