In a recent announcement, the Biden administration has opted to forgo a $10 million reward that was previously offered for the capture of a leader from the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This decision comes shortly after Ahmad al-Sharaa, the HTS leader, met with Barbara Leaf, the U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, during her visit to Damascus. Al-Sharaa’s group played a pivotal role in ousting President Bashar Assad earlier this month.
While HTS continues to be classified as a foreign terrorist organization, Leaf did not clarify if any sanctions linked to this status would be modified. However, she noted that al-Sharaa has pledged to abandon terrorism, which led to the U.S. withdrawing the reward offer. In her remarks, Leaf highlighted the importance of preventing terrorist groups from posing threats within Syria and in the region, including to U.S. interests. “We discussed the critical need to ensure terrorist groups cannot pose a threat inside Syria or externally, including to the U.S. and our partners in the region,” she stated during a telephone conference following her meeting.
Leaf conveyed a cautious optimism, stating that their initial meeting was productive. She emphasized the need to focus on tangible actions rather than mere rhetoric. U.S. officials, including Leaf, welcomed al-Sharaa’s public remarks about protecting the rights of minorities and women but remain wary of his commitment over the long term. “He came across as pragmatic. It was a good first meeting. We will judge by deeds not just by words,” Leaf remarked.
The U.S. delegation’s trip was not only about engaging HTS but also aimed to advocate for a government that includes various factions and to gather information regarding the missing American journalist Austin Tice. Leaf was accompanied by Daniel Rubinstein, the former special envoy for Syria, and Roger Carstens, the head of hostage negotiations, during discussions with local leaders and civil society representatives.
Carstens disclosed that there was no new intelligence on Tice’s status or whereabouts but confirmed that efforts to locate him would persist. He had previously traveled to Lebanon to seek information and indicated that additional U.S. officials would also be making visits to Syria to advance the search efforts. “We’re going to be like bulldogs on this,” he stated, sharing that the U.S. was concentrating on about six prisons where they believed Tice might have been held previously, and they had identified three additional locations that could also be investigated, totaling up to 40 sites under consideration for any evidence regarding Tice’s presence.
Tice, a journalist known for his contributions to various reputable publications, was last seen at a checkpoint in a disputed area near Damascus amid the escalating Syrian conflict. Following his disappearance, a video surfaced showing him blindfolded and in captivity, calling out for help. Since then, there has been no word from him, and Assad’s administration has publicly denied having him in custody.
This diplomatic visit marked the first time American diplomats have officially traveled to Syria in over a decade, since the U.S. embassy in Damascus was closed in 2012. Although a limited number of U.S. diplomats have been assigned to support military operations in Syria, this visit represents a significant step in re-establishing diplomatic engagement.
Shortly before the delegation’s meeting in Damascus, U.S. military forces announced they had conducted airstrikes in northeastern Syria that resulted in the death of an Islamic State leader and another militant. This operation is part of their sustained efforts to counter IS activities in Syria amidst the ongoing turmoil, including concerns over the safety of over 8,000 IS-linked detainees held by Kurdish forces allied with the U.S.
The Pentagon has revealed that, prior to Assad’s removal, the U.S. increased its military presence in Syria to combat IS insurgency, with approximately 2,000 troops currently deployed. Although there may be renewed diplomatic interactions, U.S. officials have indicated that this will not lead to the immediate reopening of the American embassy, which remains under the protection of the Czech government. Decisions regarding official diplomatic recognition will depend on how the new Syrian authorities proceed moving forward.
