Qutaiba Idlbi, former director of American affairs at Syria’s Foreign Ministry, announced in a post on his official Facebook page that he had submitted his resignation from his duties at the ministry and the foreign minister’s private office.

Idlbi did not specify the duties he had held since Saad Barood was appointed to replace him as director of American affairs.

On Tuesday, October 20, Idlbi said his resignation followed “an exceptional period of work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates,” describing it as an experience he was proud of, “with all its responsibilities, challenges and achievements.”

He explained that when he decided to join the ministry after the fall of the former regime, the next phase remained uncertain and Syria was still facing deep international isolation. He said the decision had carried risks, including serious threats and real fears, but his belief that building a new Syria was a shared responsibility outweighed those fears.

He stressed that he had not sought the position for personal gain, but had willingly accepted its “burden” out of conviction, viewing the responsibility as an opportunity to serve people. Public service in a country whose people had paid such a heavy price for freedom and dignity, he said, could not be a privilege or a source of prestige, but a trust for which one must be held accountable.

Barood Replaces Idlbi

According to an announcement by al-Ikhbariya on June 22, Saad Barood was appointed director of American affairs at Syria’s Foreign Ministry, a position Qutaiba Idlbi had held since May 2025.

Barood had served as director of international organizations and conferences at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates since May 2025, before being assigned responsibility for relations with the United States under the ministry’s new structure.

Barood holds a master’s degree in aerospace sciences. He previously headed Nexus Action, an organization specializing in humanitarian diplomacy, chaired the Voices for Displaced Syrians Forum, and served on the advisory board of the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks.

Before the fall of the former regime, Barood worked as first secretary at the Syrian embassy affiliated with the Syrian National Coalition in Qatar.

Qutaiba Idlbi is a Syrian diplomat who took charge of American affairs at Syria’s Foreign Ministry in May 2025. In recent months, he became known through media appearances discussing Damascus’s positions on regional and international issues, alongside his work on Syrian-US relations.

According to Idlbi’s official Facebook page, which Enab Baladi reviewed, he listed April 2026 as the end of his tenure, indicating that he had worked for 10 months.

New Foreign Ministry Appointments

On Sunday, June 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced the appointment of several new department directors and advisers as part of efforts to complete the organization of its administrative and diplomatic work.

The appointments included Saad Barood as director of American affairs, Sally Shoubat as director of European affairs, Dr. Nada Aswad as director of Afro-Asian and Oceania affairs, Qutaiba Qadish as director of international cooperation, and Nahla Othman as director of expatriates and refugees.

Obaida Arnaout also took charge of diplomatic representation, Dima Moussa of international agreements and treaties, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Salam of protocol, Dr. Hassan Junaidi of administrative development, and Abdul Nasser Kashou of cybersecurity. Riyad al-Khader was assigned to the security and protection department.

The Foreign Ministry also appointed advisers to several portfolios, including Dr. Mohammad al-Ahmad for Arab affairs, Ambassador Jihad Makdissi for American affairs, Dr. Hamza al-Mustafa for European affairs, Mohammad al-Jaffal for Afro-Asian affairs, Talal Kanaan for energy and environment affairs, and Dr. Mohammad Ghadban for academic development and diplomatic training.