The US has cancelled a $10m (£7.9m) reward for the arrest of Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, following discussions with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf said the meeting was “very productive” and Sharaa came across as “pragmatic”.
The US delegation arrived in Damascus after HTS overthrew the Assad regime less than two weeks ago. Washington still designates HTS as a terrorist group, but is seeking to build pressure on it to transition to an inclusive government.
Leaf discussed “transition principles” with Sharaa and regional events, while also seeking information on American citizens who disappeared under Assad’s regime, including journalist Austin Tice and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz. The visit is the first formal American diplomatic appearance in Damascus in over a decade.
The US delegation includes senior officials such as Leaf, Roger Carstens, and Daniel Rubinstein, who met with civil society groups and community members to discuss their vision for Syria’s future and how the US can support them.
This move reflects the shifting dynamics in Syria since Assad’s ouster and the US efforts to influence its governance. The US is building pressure on HTS to transition to a non-sectarian government, a key step towards sanctions relief that Damascus needs.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07gv3j818ko