In a surprising diplomatic gesture, U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani jointly inaugurated the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in Damascus, reopening the facility for the first time since bilateral relations collapsed over a decade ago.

The ceremony, held under tight security and limited press access, took place at the historic U.S. residence in the Syrian capital. The move marks a potential thaw in the long-frozen diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus, though U.S. officials were quick to downplay expectations of a full restoration of ties.

The appearance of Syria’s top diplomat alongside a senior U.S. official marks a rare moment of high-level contact between the two governments. Al-Shaibani, who was appointed foreign minister under Syria’s transitional government, called the reopening “a gesture of diplomatic responsibility.”