**U.S. Diplomats Engage in Talks in Syria Amid Ongoing Conflict**
In a notable diplomatic initiative, the first U.S. diplomats to enter Syria since President Bashar Assad’s recent ouster engaged in discussions with transitional officials in Damascus on Friday. The delegation aimed to advocate for a government that includes diverse voices and also sought updates regarding the fate of missing American journalist Austin Tice.
This meeting included key figures such as Barbara Leaf, the U.S. diplomat focused on the Middle East, Daniel Rubinstein, a former special envoy for Syria, and Roger Carstens, who serves as the Biden administration’s lead negotiator for hostages. Reports indicate that they met with both interim leaders and civil society representatives during their visit.
Although the meeting’s specifics have not been disclosed, a scheduled news conference was scrapped amid undisclosed security issues. Leaf and her colleagues left the Four Seasons hotel in Damascus on Friday without addressing the waiting press.
According to the State Department, the main focus for the delegation was to gather information on Tice and emphasize important principles such as the protection of minority rights and denouncing terrorism. The U.S. government has stressed that these factors will be crucial for its support of any new Syrian government.
Prior to the delegation’s arrival, the U.S. military executed airstrikes in northeastern Syria, resulting in the deaths of an Islamic State leader and an additional militant. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that this action took place in an area that was once under the control of the Syrian regime, highlighting ongoing efforts to thwart IS insurgents from exploiting Syria’s current chaotic situation, particularly concerning the fate of over 8,000 IS detainees held by U.S.-allied Kurdish forces.
Remarkably, this group of diplomats marks the first formal American visit to Syria in over ten years, following the closure of the U.S. embassy in Damascus back in 2012. A limited number of diplomats have since been assigned to political advisory roles linked to military operations in Syria.
The State Department noted that the American representatives would be engaging with Syrian citizens, including civil society members, activists, and various community members, to learn about their aspirations for the country’s future and how the U.S. might assist.
Efforts to locate Tice have intensified, with officials claiming to have communicated with rebel factions responsible for ousting Assad’s administration. Roger Carstens had previously traveled to Lebanon in search of information regarding Tice. Known for contributing to major news outlets like The Washington Post and McClatchy newspapers, Tice disappeared at a checkpoint in a contentious area near Damascus as the civil unrest escalated.
Weeks after his disappearance, a video surfaced showing Tice blindfolded and in captivity, uttering the words, “Oh, Jesus.” Since then, no communication from him has been confirmed, and Assad’s regime has publicly denied having him in custody.
The rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a key role in the offensive that led to Assad’s departure, is recognized as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Despite ongoing sanctions, this designation does not prevent U.S. officials from holding conversations with its key members.
Although the State Department confirmed that the U.S. delegation would meet with HTS officials, it did not specify whether Ahmad al-Sharaa, the group’s leader with past ties to al-Qaida, would be included in the discussions. U.S. officials expressed cautious optimism regarding al-Sharaa’s public declarations on safeguarding minority and women’s rights, but they remain doubtful about the substance of these claims in practice.
While the United States has not maintained a formal diplomatic mission in Syria since 2012, American troops are stationed in select regions, actively participating in efforts against the Islamic State group. Recent reports from the Pentagon indicated a doubling of U.S. forces in the country prior to Assad’s recent challenges. Furthermore, airstrikes against IS targets have significantly increased amid concerns that a leadership vacuum could enable the group to regroup.
As for the immediate restoration of the U.S. embassy in Syria, officials have confirmed that this will not be occurring during this visit. The embassy is currently safeguarded by the Czech government, and decisions regarding diplomatic recognition will depend on clarity from the new Syrian authorities regarding their intentions moving forward.
