Ft Wayne Times

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, a Republican congressman from Indiana, recently posted a series of tweets reflecting on his visit to Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. Stutzman’s posts highlighted his discussions with Syria’s new leader and addressed ongoing regional tensions.

On October 16, 2025, Stutzman wrote, "In an interview with NTD in Washington, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) shared his reflections following the first congressional visit to post-Assad Syria. Stutzman discussed his meeting with Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, a onetime al-Qaeda member who now pledges to rebuild". In a subsequent tweet on the same day, Stutzman added, "Under al-Sharaa’s leadership, Syria held its first parliamentary elections on Oct. 5, 2025, the first since the fall of the Assad regime. Stutzman also addressed growing tensions among Druze separatists in southern Syria, who have pushed for regional autonomy. Asked about".

The referenced link in a third tweet, https://t.co/DsJotdLfF9, was posted without additional commentary.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, mentioned by Stutzman as Syria’s new leader, has a controversial background as a former member of al-Qaeda who now claims to be committed to rebuilding the country. The parliamentary elections held on October 5, 2025, marked the first such event since the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule, signaling a significant political transition in Syria. The Druze community in southern Syria has been advocating for greater autonomy amid ongoing instability and power shifts in the region.

Stutzman’s remarks come at a time when U.S. lawmakers are closely monitoring developments in Syria following years of civil conflict and regime change. The congressional visit represents an early attempt to engage with the new Syrian leadership and assess prospects for stability and reform.