Since arriving in Syria on an unofficial visit Friday, Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana and Mills toured parts of Damascus, including the old quarter of the city as well as one of the oldest synagogues in the world that was badly damaged and looted during the country’s 14-year conflict that killed half a million people.

Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) said he is “cautiously optimistic” after he met with new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Mills traveled to Damascus last week on an unofficial fact-finding mission, where he held talks with al-Sharaa about economic sanctions and peace between Syria and Israel,