US Embassy says Syria has allowed American school in Damascus to reopen after 2 years

US Embassy: Syria allows American school to reopen

DAMASCUS, Syria — The U.S. Embassy says Syria has allowed the reopening of an American school in Damascus that was shut down two years ago.

The decision is the latest indication of improving ties between the two countries.

Assistant public affairs officer Sara Cobb says Syrian authorities recently informed the embassy of the decision.

The school was ordered shut in November 2008 in response to a deadly U.S. cross-border raid on a village near the country’s border with Iraq.

Washington has reached out to Syria in recent months by nominating the first U.S. ambassador to Damascus since 2005 and sending top diplomats to meet with Syrian officials.

Cobb said on Sunday the embassy welcomes the decision and is studying the feasibility of reopening the school later this year.