Long-shuttered US ambassador's residence in Damascus is reopened as Washington mends ties with Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The U.S. flag was hoisted Thursday outside of the long-shuttered ambassador’s residence in Damascus, in a signing of growing ties between Washington and the new Syrian government.

The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, who has also been appointed special envoy to Syria, arrived to inaugurate the residence, Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported.