US House passes Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The House of Representatives passed the amended Syria Terrorism Threat Assessment Act on Wednesday, directing the Homeland Security Department to evaluate potential terror threats to the US originating from individuals in Syria with ties to designated terror organizations.

The bill, introduced by congressman Morgan Luttrell, cleared the lower chamber by voice vote.

The legislation requires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to conduct a detailed threat assessment focused on individuals in Syria who are affiliated with Foreign Terrorist Organizations or Specially Designated Global Terrorist Organizations.

Ahead of the vote, Luttrell took to the House floor to argue that despite the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, terror networks in Syria continue to evolve.

"When the Assad regime was toppled in Syria late last year, the threat of terrorism did not disappear. It just actually shifted, adapted and found new ways to survive. For decades, the Assad regime gave terrorist groups a place to train, organize and plan attacks. You don't just swipe away the leadership and make the terrorism go away. Those threats don't disappear overnight, and we'd be foolish to think otherwise," said Luttrell.

He warned lawmakers not to assume that the transition underway in Syria eliminates the risks to the US.

"Although Syria's government is in transition and terrorist designations against its new leadership have been lifted, we must not be naive to other terrorist threats that may still originate in the region," he said.

Luttrell framed the bill as a necessary safeguard as the US determines how to approach Syria in a post-Assad landscape.

"As this body and this administration determine how best to engage with Syria in a post-Assad era, this threat assessment ensures that we have the information we need to make these decisions with eyes wide open. By doing so, we can better examine and mitigate emerging threats from the region," he said.