Syria rolls back new entry restrictions on US, British citizens after Americans report being turned away

Syria has reversed a temporary requirement for American and British citizens to obtain prior approval before entering the country, restoring the earlier entry procedures following controversy over reports that US travellers were being denied entry at border crossings. The Syrian Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Friday, November 13, saying that the requirement for advance clearance had been withdrawn and that entry procedures for citizens of the two countries had returned to their previous arrangements.Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Mohammad Yaqoub al-Omar told the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency that the prior approval requirement had been introduced as a temporary measure. He did not explain why the restriction had been imposed or why it was withdrawn. Al-Omar added that entry procedures for citizens of other countries remained unchanged.The reversal came a day after videos circulated on social media showing American travellers claiming they had been refused entry into Syria. The reports raised questions about whether Damascus had introduced fresh restrictions on foreign visitors.On Thursday, Mazen Alloush, director of international relations and cooperation at Syria's General Authority for Ports and Customs, confirmed that US citizens had recently been added to a list of nationalities requiring advance approval from the Interior Ministry.