Raising the American flag in Damascus raises concerns for Israel.

The Israeli newspaper "Maariv" reported that the raising of the American flag in Syria during the opening of the residence of the American Ambassador Thomas Barrack in Damascus is seen as a "provocation to Israel."

The newspaper pointed out that statements by American officials regarding a new page with Damascus have been translated into an official step, confirming a different direction in the relations between the two countries.

According to sources, the administration of President Donald Trump is moving forward with lifting sanctions on Syria, aiming to remove it from the list of terrorism sponsors.

The newspaper added that the appointment of the American Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrack, as a U.S. envoy to Syria confirms that Washington sees Ankara as the main external player in Syria, not Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, "Haaretz" highlighted that this move raises concerns in Israel about Trump's foreign policy towards the Middle East, which is said to be rapidly changing and reflects the U.S. desire to prioritize stability in Syria after lifting sanctions.

The U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, raised his country's flag above the residence of the American Ambassador in Damascus on Thursday, May 29, in the first official visit since the closure of the U.S. embassy in 2012.