VIDEO: Syrian Flag Raised at Embassy in Washington for First Time After 12 Years

In a symbolic moment for Syrian diplomacy, Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Friday raised the Syrian flag over the country’s embassy in Washington, D.C., marking the first time it has flown there since the mission was suspended in 2012.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the event as “a historic moment,” underscoring the significance of restoring Syria’s presence at its embassy in the United States after more than a decade.

“In a historic moment, Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic over the Syrian Embassy building in the U.S. capital, Washington,” the ministry said in an official statement.

The move is being closely watched in international diplomatic circles, as it signals a potential thaw in relations between Damascus and Washington after years of strained ties. Syria’s diplomatic mission in the U.S. had been closed since the height of the country’s civil conflict in 2012, following a breakdown in relations between the two nations.

Analysts say the restoration of the flag could pave the way for future discussions on limited diplomatic engagement, though no official statements have been made by the U.S. government regarding normalization.

The raising of the Syrian flag stands as a symbolic gesture of Syria’s intent to re-establish its diplomatic footprint in Washington after more than a decade of absence.